SIMONE C. WILSON (LARK), author of Roses Amidst the Thorn and Roses Amidst the Thorn: The Parched Garden, resides in New Jersey. A proud mother of two, grandmother of seven, and great-grandmother, she began her writing journey at the encouragement of family and friends by submitting poetry to various competitions. Her work has earned her recognition as an International Poet of Merit by the International Poet Society, and her poetry has been featured in multiple anthologies. Several of her poems were also selected for inclusion in The Sound of Poetry, a recorded poetry collection by the International Library of Poetry. A retired master teacher with 40 years of service in the East Orange, New Jersey School District, Ms. Wilson was honored as Teacher of the Year for her dedication to education. Writing poetry, short stories, and plays has been a lifelong passion, and through her literary works, she continues to explore themes of resilience, love, and faith.