Brenda Faye (Waterhouse) Bowman was born June 2, 1955, in Wenatchee, Washington. She was the only girl among her brother Robert and many cousins who helped run the family .
Christmas is coming and Ayla wants a snowman just like in her book, but there is no snow to be found in her drought-stricken town, not even a drop of rain. Only bales of hay. Ayla’s Christmas Wish is inspired by the small, south-west Victorian town of Tarrington, which runs a hay bale design competition each year. This book compares European Christmas traditions with the reality of a hot, dry Australian summer. Behind the story of Ayla wishing for a snowman, there is a town wishing for rain.