Wendy Samford & April Carothers

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As an educator, Wendy Samford, Ph.D. has a background in business and education and wrote her first book “Out of the Dark: A Direction for Change in Education” which led to a second book, “Creating a Culture of Support for Teacher Leaders: A Vision for Change and Hope.”  </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recently, she felt called to write a book about her daughter-in-law and her life growing up in the “system” of foster care, group homes, and lock-up facilities.  The book, “Bloom Where Planted” by Winifred Grace and Ava McCarthy (pseudonyms), is filled with sadness and humor, defeat and tenacity, neglect and perseverance. </span>Bloom Where Planted won Silver in Published Catch-all category and Gold in the LBGTQ+ category in the 2019 Royal Palm Literary Awards. Discover more at BloomWherePlantedBook.com.</p>