Patricia Coombs (born in Los Angeles, California, July 23, 1926) is the author and illustrator of many children's picture books, including the popular Dorrie the Little Witch series. “Of her childhood, she says, ‘I was forever being told to get my nose out of a book and go outside. As a result I ended up reading in odd places where I wouldn’t be noticed—behind my brother’s mice cages, under lilac bushes. The smells of mice and lilacs to this day evoke certain stories.’” She attended DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, and received her B.A. (1947) and M.A. (1950) in English literature from the University of Washington. She first started writing and illustrating stories for her two daughters, the youngest of which, together with a Siamese cat named Dingbat, became the inspiration for Dorrie and her cat Gink. Bibliography Dorrie the Little Witch Series Dorrie is a little witch whose “hat is always on crooked and her stockings never match.” She has a black cat named Gink who follows her wherever she goes. She lives with her mother, the Big Witch, and their house-hand, Cook. All of the 20 Dorrie books except Dorrie and the Haunted Schoolhouse, and the 2009-2010 print-on-demand (POD) reprints, are currently out of print. However, the reprints provided by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform are readily available at such online bookstores as Amazon.com. Dorrie's Magic, 1962 Dorrie and the Blue Witch, 1964 – When Dorrie is left home alone by the Big Witch, she decides to have a tea party with Gink. There is a knock on the door. Expecting Cook to arrive any minute, Dorrie opens the door. Instead of Cook, she finds the bad Blue Witch. Dorrie scours Cook's magic cabinet, uses its contents to capture the Blue Witch and receives a gold cauldron for her efforts. Dorrie's Play, 1965 – Shooed away by the Big Witch and Cook, Dorrie decides to put on a play with Gink. Dorrie picks up some cloth from the sewing room to use for her play. Not realizing it is the Big Witch's costume for the Costume Ball, she has Cook cut it and then uses it for stage curtains. Once it is discovered that the Big Witch's costume is ruined, Dorrie comes up with an idea that makes the Big Witch a winner. Dorrie and the Weather Box, 1966 - Dorrie finds a picnic basket and wants to have