LISA BEARD is a fine art photographer who also enjoys writing and creating mixed media art. She was born and continues to live in Woodstock, IL, a suburb of Chicago, where she is also a high school teacher and LRC director. Throughout life, Lisa has been drawn to exploration, especially the history behind abandoned spaces, and to photographing and documenting it. Abandoned Illinois: Secrets Behind the Spaces is her first published book. Volume II and Abandoned Wisconsin will soon follow. For more on Lisa and her work, please visit www.lisambeard.com.