CARLA BURKE IS A CHILDREN'S AUTHOR WHO WON THE CHRISTIAN LITERARY AWARD FOR HER FIRST BOOK, "i SPY A DRAGONFLY." CARLA VOLUNTEERS MUCH OF HER TIME TO THE SADDLELIGHT THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER IN SAN ANTONIO, TX

CARLA BURKE'S LOVE OF NATURE AND A PARTICULAR FONDNESS FOR DRAGONFLIES INSPIRED THE CHRISTIAN LITERARY AWARD NOMINEE, "I SPY A DRAGONFLY."

INFORPORATING HER INTENSE LOVE FOR HORSES IN HER SECOND BOOK, "MY NAME MAY BE PEANUTS, BUT I SAY NAY TO PB&J," TELLS A STORY OF HOW CHILDREN ARE AFFECTED BY LIFE-THREATENING ALLERGIES - MAINLY PEANUTS AND TREE NUTS. THE STORY IS TOLD FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE PONY, PEANUTS, WHO'S HUMAN FRIEND, PENNY HAS TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT EVERYTHING SHE EATS BECAUSE SHE IS ANAPHYLACTIC TO PEANUTS.

CARLA'S DEEP SEEDED DESIRE TO HELP CHILDREN AND HER LOVE FOR HORSES LED HER TO VOLUNTEER AT THE SADDLE LIGHT CENTER FOR THERAPEUTIC HORSEMANSHIP, WHERE SHE TAKES CARE OF 12 HORSES AND ASSISTS SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN WHEN THEY COME TO RIDE.

A TEXAS NATIVE, CARLA AND HER HUSBAND SHARE SPACE IN SAN ANTONIO WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND A HOST OF ANIMALS..