Beth Cooper grew up on fresh vegetables from her family’s garden. She marveled at the miracle of lifeless seeds sprouting and growing and producing good things to eat. Since autumn is her favorite season, she especially enjoys using pumpkins for baking and decorating.

Beth has been writing and illustrating books since she could hold a pencil. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of North Texas and spent twelve years designing interfaces for websites before returning to her roots. She enjoys reading, drawing, and traveling around the world or with her family in their RV. She lives with her husband and son in San Antonio, Texas.

If you’d like to grow a Halloween pumpkin, you can find varieties similar to Big Max, Sugar or Munchkin, Lumina or Jack O’lantern online, in garden centers or seed catalogs. Plant the seeds in the middle of summer, in a sunny spot, with lots of room, according to the package directions. Be sure to give them plenty of water. Your pumpkin should be ready to pick in about 80 days.