Lee McAvoy, LMHC

Lee has undergraduate degrees in psychology and elementary education and graduate degrees in special education and counseling. Encountering a "mean teacher" in first grade gave Lee the determination to grow up be "a teacher who's nice to kids." After a long, rewarding career as an elementary teacher, Lee retired to focus on her psychotherapy practice and lifelong dream of writing books for children.

Lee is currently querying her debut upper middle grade novel, Summer of Rescue, and picture book Kitten's Voice. Her stories sensitively address social/emotional themes including fostering empathy, finding one's voice, love and respect for animals and nature, and persevering despite obstacles.

Lee grew up in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains in Upstate NY and currently lives in Rochester, NY with her husband and three cats.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
• Society of Children's Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)
• Rochester area Children's Writers and Illustrators (RACWI)
• 12x12 Online Picture Book Group
• Nu Chapter Counseling Honor Society International
• New York Mental Health Counselors Association (NYMHCA)

Photo by Kelly Kester