A retired mother of four and grandmother of five, Joye Thackston, spent twenty years creating and operating three different businesses. After retiring for the third time, she is still finding plenty to do. She has a passion for teaching in prison. Joye has spent the last fourteen years teaching Bible classes at the ladies prison in Gatesville, Texas. If you asked her to list her greatest accomplishments, her family and children would be number one. She describes them as blessings from God. Her legacy is to leave them with a knowledge of their loving God, which is their inheritance.

Born in Gatesville, Texas, Joye studied business at East Texas State. She lives in Waco, Texas, with her husband, Douglas. Her three remaining children, Kelly, Kim, and Kenneth live nearby. When asked what qualified her to write a book for children, she replied, “A call from God and a willing spirit to obey. Of course, being a mother and grandmother has provided plenty of material.” If Only Donkeys Could Talk is about her son Remington when he was about four years old.