Joan M Hellquist is an artist and author, who has loved children and animals all of her life. Her past experience with children has mostly been as a healthcare provider and more recently as a volunteer bereavement facilitator at the Children's Grief Center of New Mexico.

Piki Goes to College is her second book and the first in a series about Piki's adventures. Joan and Piki went to "college" together so that Joan could become a Service dog Instructor/Trainer and Piki, a Service Dog.
Joan and Piki live in New Mexico with Joan's other dog, Teddy.