About GrowlyBird

Chris Mason

Chris has been programming professionally since 1978, and wrote his first app for the Mac in 1984 — the year that Macintosh was introduced. He worked at Microsoft twice, for a total of 10 years — because if a mistake is worth making, it’s worth doing again. The first time, he was in charge of Word development back when Word was still fun to use (Word 6 is what happened because he left), and was the chief developer for Creative Writer (a short-lived word processor for kids). The second time, he worked on Office for Mac, including writing the Ribbon that debuted in Mac Office 2011. He has three software patents in word processing technology.

In the non-Microsoft intervals he wrote the GrowlyBird apps and many others. He can't stop programming even if he wanted to, so keep an eye out for updates and new products.

Chris is also the author of 13 novels, all of which, like our software, are available for free. Check them out here. (Only 12 of them are described — one of them was written under a female pseudonym which we decline to disclose.)

Nancy Mason

Nancy has tried almost everything except being an astronaut and a brain surgeon (but the latter is still on her list). That includes professional picture framer, art gallery owner, bank teller, urgent care receptionist, bar swamper, secretary, hotel maid, bookkeeper, ski resort ticket seller, hospital admitting clerk, hotel reservation agent, horticultural supervisor for mentally disabled adults, and executive assistant. She even tried programming for a while. Plus, she once lived in a converted school bus in Montana, which is undeniably cool.

She is currently engaged in zoo-keeping, landscape beautification, and home enrichment, and acts as chatelaine and Prime User for GrowlyBird Software.

Peaches

Peaches is a harlequin macaw who knows over 150 words and isn’t afraid to use them. Some of her favorite phrases are “Don’t eat me,” “Bring me the ball,” “Pickle puss,” “Muchas smooches,” “Peakaboo,” “Too much pepper,” “Achoo!”, “Crabby britches,” and “Grrrrrr.” Oh, yes, she also knows “Grrrowwwly birrrd.” She doesn’t know much about software but she is user-friendly. Sort of. Occasionally. If she’s in a good mood.

Coconut

One of the founding members of GrowlyBird. 1997 - 2019.

Chirpies

The Chirpies (technically, parakeets) are like a 1980s boy band: always singing, whether you want them to or not, but not about anything of substance. And they look really good. They don't know it, but they are Peaches' pets. Peaches knows it, though: she watches them the way some people binge-watch GoT.

And the other mammals…