When you ask a child what they want to be when they grow up, you will hear all kinds of answers. Growing up in the tiny town of Callahan, Fl, Andrea was not exposed to many career options and had no idea what she wanted to do as an adult. She has held jobs from teaching 3-year-olds at a private school, to Guest Service Manager at Walt Disney World, and most recently to the neon lights of the Las Vegas Strip working as an Event Specialist.

In February 2022, the shark attack of Simon Nellist, in Sydney Australia caught Andrea’s attention. She followed the story closely and began to research shark attacks and the process of culling. “These poor animals are being killed for being animals” she thought… At the age of forty-two, she had realized her passion.

From that day Andrea decided, along with her incredibly supportive husband Darrell, that there needed to be a change. She knew that if we want to make a difference in this world for sharks that are now in danger, we need to teach the younger generation that all living things matter and that it is in a respect for these incredible animals and not fear, that we can study, learn more about them and save them from senseless killing.

Finn & Friends: A Birthday Adventure is the first book that Andrea has written, but definitely not the last that will share the joys of conservation, friendship and exploration with the younger generation.