In Heaven

Gabrielle lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband and fat cat. She taught 4th and 6th grade for 13 years, both in public schools through Teach for America and in a Christian school, New Hope Academy. She now works as a reading tutor, curriculum-writer, and graphic design assistant. Gabrielle has enjoyed writing poetry and memoirs since elementary school and makes it a rule to not go far from home without a book to read. This is Gabrielle’s first published book and first collaboration with her mother, Cheryl Darnell, illustrator of In Heaven. After illustrating and drawing throughout her childhood years, Cheryl Darnell graduated from the University of Kansas with a BFA in drawing and painting. Since then, she has been busy drawing, painting, and teaching children and adults. Cheryl has had work in galleries and has commissioned work in homes throughout the Southeast. Cheryl began the illustrations for In Heaven 30 years ago and completed them while collaborating with her daughter, Gabrielle. Because of losing her mother as a child, it is Cheryl’s deep hope that this book will help children who have lost dear ones and need to know about death and Heaven. She currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband and squeaky cat.