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I’m Gail Heath—teacher by day, storyteller by nature—crafting imaginative tales for kids and clean, heartfelt stories for grown-ups who love a good tale.
My stories are fueled by a life spread across some pretty amazing places. When school’s in session, I’m teaching in Nevada, where the desert’s quiet beauty gives me plenty of space to think. Come summer, you might find me on my sailboat on Lake Huron, soaking up the calm, listening to loons calling across the bay.
Though I don’t get there often, Condor Ranch in Colorado also holds a special place in my heart. It’s home to my Michigan-based company, Condor Publishing, Inc., a truly Western spread nestled beneath big skies and rugged canyons, and the place I hope to turn into a retreat for writers someday.
Whether I’m writing for kids or adults, I hope my stories spark your imagination, warm your heart, and leave you smiling—no matter if you’re seven or seventy.
So, come aboard, friend—let my stories be your guide and your imagination take the lead. Together, we’ll explore new worlds and find magic in every page.
Gail Heath holds a B.A. in Fine Arts from Michigan State University and a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing and Education from Central Michigan University. A lifelong educator, she spent many years teaching in Michigan’s public schools and later with the Clark County School District in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she also served as a teacher trainer for Equity & Diversity.
Her commitment to social justice has been a guiding force throughout her career. Gail has served on the advisory board for Teaching Tolerance (now Learning for Justice), sponsored by the Southern Poverty Law Center. She remains an active voice against prejudice, bigotry, and racism, and is expanding Condor Publishing to include a new line of books celebrating diversity and honoring all people.
Gail’s poetry, articles, and stories have appeared in national and regional magazines, newspapers, and adult anthologies. She is the author of children’s books, a recipient of the Santa Barbara Writer’s Conference Award, and was a featured speaker at a Sundance Children’s Festival. In 2023, she was honored with the Will Rogers Silver Medallion Award at a ceremony in Fort Worth, Texas. This award recognizes excellence in Western literature and media, affirming her place as a significant voice in contemporary Western storytelling.
Gail’s storytelling is shaped by a rich and adventurous upbringing. As the daughter of Lt. Colonel Harry and Lucille MacDermaid, she grew up as an “Air Force Brat,” living in Japan, Germany, France, and various parts of the United States. Her parents made every move an adventure, instilling in her a deep appreciation for travel, culture, and adaptability.
Before graduating high school, she attended 21 different schools. Along the way, she climbed Mt. Fuji, ascended the Zugspitze in Switzerland, splashed in the waters along the ‘bonnie bonnie banks’ of Loch Lomond, spent a weekend in a castle on the Rhine, and studied at a military boarding school in Verdun, France, surrounded by echoes of World War I history.
One of her favorite—and often surprising—stories involves time spent in the Alcona County Jail. When she mentions that she “spent a lot of time in jail,” it immediately grabs attention. The surprise? Her grandfather, Raymond Adair, was the sheriff. At that time, the sheriff and his wife lived inside the jail—a large two-story brick building—where her grandmother Alice cooked meals for the prisoners. Gail’s childhood visits were filled with curiosity, stories, and a front-row view into a truly unique way of life.
As a teacher, traveler, and lifelong learner, Gail has gathered stories from classrooms and coastlines, canyons and coffee shops, family memories and far-off places. These lived moments—whether quiet or wild—become the heartbeat of the tales she tells.
These are only a handful of the real-life threads Gail weaves into her storytelling—because behind every chapter, there’s a journey worth sharing.
Shhh… do you hear it? That’s not just wind—it’s Lake Huron whispering stories. The sand is warm, the breeze is playful, and way out on the horizon, giant freighters glide by like floating castles.
This is where imagination runs barefoot. Where seagulls gossip, waves giggle at your toes, and the world feels wide and full of wonder.
Click play, and come sit by the water with Gail. Let’s watch the sky, listen to the lake, and dream up a new adventure together.
