Shilah Ferr

Bio- Dolores Gresalfi, AKA Shilah Ferr, author “April’s Heart”

I grew up in northern New Jersey with my brother and sister. We share treasured memories of high school, the Jersey shore, and lots of family time with cousins. We spent tons of time at the lake in New Hampshire, and skiing every winter at Mt. Snow Vermont. All of which became part of April’s Heart! My romance novel is set in high school in the eighties and although a work of fiction, basically follows the skeleton of my life, especially my dysfunctional family! 

I went to college in Washington, DC and got a bachelor’s and a masters degree in Early Childhood Education. I met my husband through mutual friends in DC and we moved to Virginia Beach where I started my teaching career. I was a classroom teacher for Virginia Beach City Public Schools for 31 years, until I retired in 2021. 

Since I was a pubic school teacher, and due to the gratuitous sexual content and otherwise controversial nature of April’s Heart, I felt I had to keep my identity under wraps. After playing around with my maiden name, which is Schleifer, I came up with my pseudonym, Shilah Ferr.

My husband and I raised two sons, who are doing well, grown and making their own way in the world.

I now work for the Virginia Aquarium where I narrate the dolphin and whale watching tours on their two boats. It’s tons of fun. I also tutor students at a local elementary school when I am not out on the ocean.