LOURDES HEUER is a children's book author and poet. She was born in Spain to Cuban immigrant parents, then moved to the United States in 1984. She holds an M.F.A. in Writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and is an Associate Professor of English at Broward College. She is the author of On This Airplane and Esme's Birthday Conga Line. Lourdes lives in South Florida with her husband, son and three dogs.