Sue Leamy Kies, a retired high school English teacher, lives in Platteville, Wisconsin with her husband Dave, border collie mix Jojo, and her backyard chickens. She relishes spending time with family and friends, growing flowers, kayaking and walking in nature, cooking and eating food, listening to music and reading and writing books. Before teaching, Sue and her husband ran a dairy and hog farm and had five children. She returned to school and at the age of 36 graduated in 1991 as valedictorian from the University of Wisconsin Platteville. Her degree in English education and minor in journalism led her to 27 years in the classroom at her alma mater, Platteville High School. She earned her master's degree in education in 2000 and began writing down teaching stories. She spent the last four years compiling them into My Homecoming Dance. She has published poetry, essays, movie reviews, and short stories for regional magazines and newspapers, including The Illinois English Bulletin, The Voice of the River Valley, and The Wisconsin Academy Review. Also, in 2021 CADA (Center for Applied Drama and Autism) chose her play Back about a disabled veteran to be performed for their One-Act Play Festival. Additionally, Sue has written two children's books. The Platteville Library Foundation published Saving Sadie in recognition of the donors for the new library that opened in 2017. Sassy's Vacation was published by the Platteville Community Arboretum in 2022 to promote literacy and nature education on the Rountree Branch Trail.
