Jessie A. Craker was born in Rochester, New York, in a small village on Irondequoit Bay. After marriage, she travelled with her husband during his military service to Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, and a few other small countries plus Mexico and Canada. After his service was over, they moved to Canandaigua, New York, where they had their only son. She and her husband of 56 years, who is a now retired minister, live on a 123-acre farm in rural Canandaigua, New York, with their pet dog, Lexie, a Shetland Sheep dog or Sheltie for short. The couple were assistant 4H leaders with the Valley Rough Riders in their early years and have always worked with teens, having also been house parents for the Gastavius Adolphus Children's Home. The teens seemed to enjoy horses and the farm. Craker has always wanted to be a writer, so after retirement she achieved her ambition through the encouragement of her parents. Appy, The Appaloosa Cowpony is her sixth book, but her first for young readers. In her spare time, she enjoys crafts, sewing, fishing,hunting, camping, and just sitting on her swing on their front porch watching the world pass by.
