Authors

Author Bio

I am relatively new to the world of social networking, but have really enjoyed using facebook as a way to connect with friends—new and old.  I have been stunned at the amount of community it can generate, as I learn something new about what others are doing.  I have been recommending it to friends and relatives and as a result my brother-in-law just added his profile page.  Yesterday was his birthday and he received numerous birthday greetings from all over.  It’s so exciting.

 My biggest challenge with social networks is the time that they eat up.  It’s good time, but like email I find myself spending time there when I should be writing to meet my professional deadlines.

 I love to write and it’s a good thing because I have written primarily for other people in the past.  Now it’s my time to write for what I feel passionate about.  As an school administrator I watched young moms come and go through the school office every day, as colleagues as well as “clients”.  In the process I have found myself encouraging them because they are all doing so well, even though sometimes they question themselves.  So, I am excited that Hachette as seen the need and has believed in me enough to give me an opportunity to share some good news with mommies.

 I did not set out to be a writer.  I did not take English classes other than the perfunctory English 101 required for graduation.  I confess to reading the Cliff Notes as I was too busy in the science and music departments.  So, most of my writing comes straight from the heart—from my personal experiences.  Although I have my doctorate my writing is far from scholarly.  I want it to be emotive and warm and rich in narrative.  Even my dissertation incorporated a style of writing that incorporated rich, prosaic vignettes that I wrote, which I have discovered are a strength of mine.

 In education we believe that to help children learn to become better writers, they need to read better writers.  There is no question that I have been influenced by good writers.  It might (or might not) come as a surprise that some of my favorite authors have been children’s authors.  Lowis Lowry (Number the Stars), Roald Dahl, C. S. Lewis, (The entire Chronicles of Narnia), Patricia MacLachlan (Sarah, Plain and Tall), Katherine Paterson.  For some time I made it my goal to read every one of the Newbury medal winning books and they are rich in language and message.   I have loved every minute!