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GILBERT SUN NEWS | JUNE 13, 2021
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Gilbert woman’s ‘secret’ life as author BY PAUL MARYNIAK GSN Executive Editor
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y day, she’s Michelle Hoffman, a Gilbert mother of three who owns and runs the My CBD Store in Ahwatukee with her significant other. By night, she morphs into Dorothy F. Shaw, romance author who this week is publishing her seventh novel – “Trusting the Badge.” It’s about a sizzling love affair between a female veterinarian and a K9 officer in Arizona and the last of a trilogy that includes two other torrid relationships, each involving a K9 cop. Hoffman admits the practical motivation for starting the “Badge” trilogy. “The books are not typical K9 romantic-suspense books,” she explained. “They’re really contemporary romance. A couple of years ago, my editor had asked me to plot and write something
or “selling” right now? She advised, law enforcement, firemen, pets – things like that. So, my brilliant idea was a K9 officer and a veterinarian.” “The three books follow three K9 officers, who are also best friends, as they find their true love and struggle to make it work.” Michelle Hoffman of Gilbert, under the pen name Dorothy Shaw, All the three relahas witten the last in a trilogy of ”‘K9 cop romance” novels. (Special tionships play out against Arizona setto GSN) tings. more mainstream than my typical The first two – “Avoiding the Badge” books – I tend to be a bit edgy in my and “Redeeming the Badge“ – have writing. garnered good reviews from other “In response, I asked her what was “in” romance novelists.
For example, New York Times bestselling author Megan Hart raved, “Strong women and the men who love them and a deliciously emotional rollercoaster ride – these are the hallmarks of a Dorothy F. Shaw romance.” According to the publisher, “Trusting the Badge” brings together a “woman with trust issues” and an “exasperatingly hot, funny, smart-ass K9 officer.” “The three books are tied together because all of the characters know each other, but they can also be read as standalone,” Hoffman said. She said that while the two protagonists have been in the previous “Badge” books, “everyone, including me, has been waiting to see what their story was to be.” The “Badge” books are only part of Hoffman’s repertoire. In all she has
in Georgia, where she’ll receive a gift certificate to purchase science supplies and a complimentary one-year membership to NABT. Nall said it was especially rewarding to be recognized at the end of a difficult year, which forced teachers to figure out how to continue teaching during a global pandemic. “It’s been a rough year,” Nall said. “So, to get good news like this at the end, kind of lets you know you’re doing it all right.” As a teacher who enjoys having her students learn through hands-on activities, Nall has struggled this past year deciphering how to safely continue teaching while maintaining social distancing.
The first quarter of this school year was the most challenging, Nall recalled, since teachers were forced to teach virtually. The ordeal ended up being a valuable learning experience for Nall, who has already begun to evaluate how she can adapt her teaching style to conform to a digital-friendly format. “If I had to do virtual again,” she noted, “I would do it completely different than how I did first quarter.” Nall is often asking questions, analyzing her actions and making logical adjustments – a habit she strives to pass on to her students each year. Her inquiry-based approach to
see SHAW page 15
Basha High science teacher Arizona’s best BY KEVIN REAGAN GSN Staff Writer
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Basha High School teacher has recently been recognized as one of Arizona’s best biology educa-
tors. Katherine Nall, who’s been teaching biology and environmental science in Chandler for 15 years, was recently selected by the National Association of Biology Teachers as the state’s top science teacher in 2021. Nall, who was nominated by a colleague, will represent Arizona among the organization’s class of national recipients. She will be recognized later this year at the association’s national conference
Katherine Nall
see BASHA page 16
