Gayle grew up in Chicago and earned a BA in creative writing at Knox College. As a girl, books were among her best friends and inspired her dream of writing for children someday. Following graduation, she worked as an advertising copy writer. She never outgrew her passion for children's books, however, and when the opportunity presented itself, she joined the staff of the children's and young adult services departments of her local library in Illinois. She worked there for several years enthusiastically sharing her love of books with young people while raising three young people of her own. Today Gayle lives just outside of Madison, Wisconsin with her husband Don and their slightly neurotic rescue dog, Fiona. She is thrilled that her childhood wish has come true and she writes full time now, in her own words, "living the dream."