I grew up on the small family farm in Northeast Kansas with my parents and two older siblings. My mother was a teacher and encouraged my love of reading and writing at an early age. My father was a farmer who grew cattle and crops while teaching his children a strong work ethic and the value of a job well done. I learned many life lessons exploring every inch of the family farm. I Belong to the Country is a collection of beloved memories from my childhood and poetry inspired by nature and my experiences. Julie Nischan is a Kansas born and bred country girl. Though she left the family farm at eighteen, she has never lost her love and wonder at the grass covered prairies and breathtaking sunsets that Kansas is famous for. She lives in Topeka with her husband and two cats. She spends her free time cooking, baking, and writing. She has previously self-published Misspent-My Life in Retail, and The Substitute Cook, a collection of her favorite recipes. I Belong to the Country is her third book.