Gwyn English Nielsen was born in Westfield and raised in neighboring Mountainside, New Jersey. She graduated cum laude with a B.A. degree in English, education, and theatre arts from Bucknell University and holds an M.A. in creative writing from Fairleigh Dickinson University. After a brief career in the media and the performing arts, Ms. Nielsen owned and managed her own video sales and production business before segueing to teaching secondary English full time. She founded the small press, CGS Press, self-published her own works, and has been bringing creative literary assemblies to schools and libraries since 1999. In 2002, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders of Elizabeth, New Jersey awarded her a HEART grant for the presentation of her first children's picture book, TOREY THE TURKEY GOES SKIING. Among her many achievements, Gwyn is included in Who's Who Among America's Teachers as well as Who's Who in America. Most recently, she received the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award from Who's Who. At present, she is a singer-songwriter, recording original tunes and performing in a musical duo called Girls' Night Out.