Jill Sharp, writing as Maria Rayford, attended Wayne Elementary and graduated from Wayne Community High School in 1981. She got married to her husband, Kenny. Maria graduated from Indian Hills Community College and later from Graceland University. Then she went back to Wayne Elementary School to teach until she retired in 2021. She has specialized in teaching reading to children throughout her career. She wanted her students to develop a passion for reading as part of their education. Her goal as a teacher was to build a love of reading in her students. Now, as an author, it is to build that love of reading in her readers.