About the Author of

Through These Doors

Kerstin H. Becker was born in Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany. After spending her early years in Germany and Johannesburg, South Africa, she and her family moved to High Bridge, New Jersey. Her family later moved to Massachusetts, where Becker graduated from Groton-Dunstable Regional Secondary School.

After graduating from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with degrees in Communications and Music Education, Becker began a career in teaching music. A former drum major with “The Power and Class of New England,” the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band, she most recently was band director of the Northampton High School Blue Devil Marching Band.

Becker is currently managing a small press, teaching in the public schools,  and working on additional literary projects. She recently earned her Master of Music in Conducting degree from Southern Oregon University.

About the Author of

Great Gramma's Worthy Words

Barbara Thrall Hambach, daughter of Wallace and Lillian Thrall, was born on April 30, 1921, on Briar Knoll Farm in Vernon, Connecticut. Barbara has been writing for most of her life. Her topics are drawn from personal experiences and observations.

Barbara shares memories of her early years of family and community. As the oldest daughter of six children, she had many duties to provide a helping hand within her family. She was a leader of the Jolly 4-H Flower Club, became a member of Vernon Grange # 52, and belonged to the Talcottville Congregational Church. She attended OgdensCornerSchool for primary grades, a one room school, and graduatated from RockvilleHigh School in 1939. She married Francis Hambach at St Catherine’s Church in Broad Brook in 1942. She has three daughters – Janice, Nancy and Roberta.

Barbara learned from her Grandmother, Florence Preston Thrall, that she was a descendant of William Bradford, who arrived on the Mayflower, and that she had both Revolutionary War and Civil War ancestors. Barbara has always been very proud of her heritage and is aware of the sacrifices that Americans in service continue to make. She has written several patriotic pieces to reflect this. Barbara enjoys being a grandmother and great-grandmother. A section of her writings are for Karen Thalia, a little family gem. She also writes about her favorite vacation place, Greenville, Maine.