Step up to the plate for an unforgettable adventure!
Zach Stewart's life has never been more complicated. Between preparing for the arrival of his baby brother ("the little lizard") and keeping up with the baseball team, Zach can hardly catch his breath. All he really wants is to adopt a puppy, but his parents insist that the timing isn't right. In order to prove that he’s responsible, Zach decides to do his final research project on the animal shelter. Zach is sure that he’ll not only get the dog he wants but also prove to his team that he’s the best choice for pitcher. Everything is going perfectly-until Audrey, a girl in his class with a tragic past, disappears without a trace. Zach knows he is the only one who can find Audrey and convince her to come home. He might have to put his new puppy and his baseball career on the line-but he might hit a home run anyway.
Freelance writer, former schoolteacher, and volunteer Kathleen Schrenk has been involved in New Orleans volunteer organizations for many years. She works with groups such as the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, the STAIR program (Start the Adventure in Reading), the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival, Juilliard ARTreach Service Team NOLA, and the LASPCA. Schrenk is also a founding member of NOLA City Bark dog park. Inspired by a lifelong love of animals and service, she decided to spread awareness of animal welfare by sharing personal experiences through writing. Schrenk graduated from Louisiana State University with a BS in speech and language pathology and a minor in English. She worked as a speech therapist and stay-at-home mom before becoming a middle-school teacher at St. John Lutheran School. After twenty years of teaching, Schrenk left to become more involved in the world of volunteering in New Orleans. When she’s not busy making her hometown a better place, Schrenk enjoys swimming, gardening, going to local music events, and traveling with her husband, Edmund. They have three sons and two grandchildren.