Guest post: "The Writer's Life," by Children's Author Dawn Menge
I
am enjoying my journey as a children’s author.
When I began I wasn’t planning on going beyond the first book. I had written it in one of my credentialing
classes as an assignment. As I had been
raising my three children I had toyed with writing a book on the travels of a
dog. I never thought I would actually
write it, just a far off dream. I
pursued my professional life as a teacher.
I was then assigned to write a math book. I picked repetition as my
bases based on the twelve months of the year.
I added seasons, days of the week and each new month had a new friend
around the castle with a new activity.
After publishing the first book I won an
award within a month’s time. I began to
do interviews and was being asked when the next book was going to be. I hadn’t originally thought about there being
a next book. I then started to ponder
what I would write about. Remembering my
dream of writing the adventures of my traveling dog and switched it to Queen
Vernita traveling and exploring with her new friends. I love to travel and writing my books has
become an exciting new aspect to my life.
I have had the opportunity to present my
books in several different states, traveling all over the country. I have done several presentations for entire
elementary schools and libraries. I
think the most memorable experience I have had in the most recent months was at
an elementary school.
I read Queen Vernita’s Visitors to 90
kindergarteners and Heath presented to the third and fourth grades. While Heath was introducing us he discussed
the fact that I was a teacher of the severely handicapped. A little boy spoke up, there were over 60
students in the room. He spoke straight
to Heath and told him that his sister had been in one of our classes, she had
had cerebral palsy. This young man felt
a connection with us. After the presentation the staff told us that this little
boy’s sister had just died and he hadn’t spoken to anyone in weeks. The two of
us went back to his classroom and gave him signed copies of our books and a
very big hug. Sometimes, we never know
when or where we will make a positive impact on another person.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dawn Menge is the author of the Queen
Vernita’s educational series. There are
currently five books published. Queen
Vernita’s Visitors, Queen Vernita Visits the Blue Ice Mountains, Queen Vernita
Meets Sir HeathyBean the Astronomer and Queen Vernita Explores the Oceaneer’s
Coastline. Dawn Menge’s series has won
nineteen literary awards.
Dawn Menge has been teaching severely
handicapped students for fourteen years. She holds a Masters and clear
credential as an Educational specialist.
She is currently working on her PHD in Curriculum and Instruction.
Dawn Menge is the mother of three and the
grandmother of five beautiful children.
PURCHASE HER BOOKS ON AMAZON
CHECK OUT HER LATEST BOOK:
Title:
Queen Vernita Explores the Oceaneer’s Coastline
Genre: Children’s
literature
Author: Dawn
Menge
Website:
http://www.queenvernita.com
Publisher:
Outskirtspress
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