The best-selling author of ten books and a frequent presenter at schools and libraries, Joan Marie Galat has loved two things since childhood: the night sky and writing. Galat uses her writing as a mechanism to impart her zeal for not only stargazing but also astronomy, history, mythology, travel, and self-improvement to both children and adults. Her book about solving one of history's most important seafaring puzzles, The Discovery of Longitude, won the R. Ross Annett Award for Children's Literature. Using her struggles and successes as a guidepost, Give Yourself a Pep Talk seeks to help others navigate the treacherous rapids on the rivers of life, avoid the waterfalls, and steer for calmer waters. As an experienced speaker who often uses unconventional means to deliver her message, such as juggling star-shaped beanbags to demonstrate falling stars, she delighted audiences in Seoul, South Korea, when she was invited to their international book festival to present the Korean translations of some of her books. At thirteen, Galat was already penning a weekly question-and-answer column for a newspaper, an opportunity that arose from an honorable mention she received for her submission to a poetry contest. Her astronomical endeavors led to studies of biological science and ecology and eventually work as a naturalist. This became her gateway into communications. Moving from the position of radio announcer to a copy- and news writer, she was drawn into the literary landscape, writing books and taking on freelance work. Galat operates her own business, MoonDot Media, a communications company offering writing and editing solutions in broadcast, print, and multimedia. Along with this, she edits a quarterly magazine and has worked on projects that involved CBC Radio features, multimedia content, web writing, speech writing, exhibit text, consulting, education, and much more. Presenting keynote speeches and teaching workshops on writing, creativity, and other topics also falls within her repertoire. Galat graduated from the Nothern Alberta Institute of Technology with a degree in biological sciences and ecology. She enjoys spending time in nature, gardening, reading, swimming, camping, traveling, being with family, and eating chocolate. Though preoccupied with the sky, her terrestrial home is in Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada.