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As a poet, children’s author, and clinical social worker, author visits with young children are my favorite activity because I have a unique perspective to offer. In addition to reading my work, sharing and discussing the what, why, and how of poetry, and answering questions about the writing journey, my author visits can be customized to spend some of the visit speaking about emotional resilience, a foundational skill for all writers at any stage of the journey. I have spent decades educating and writing about the particular skills to create and maintain resilience and the flexibility and openness that are integral to the writing life. Whether facing writer’s “block”, critique by a teacher or peers, challenging and multiple revisions, and ultimately submissions and rejections, the ability to recovery quickly and flexibly is so important for children to learn. I share my own story, because everything I believe and share is also advice I follow—and offer an overview of specific, teachable skills. I am a member of the Academy of American Poets and the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and have numerous publications of fiction and poetry in Cricket, Ladybug, Babybug, Highlights, Hello, The Dirigible Balloon, and several anthologies. I’ve been awarded first place, finalist, and honorable mention awards for multiple picture book and novel in verse manuscripts, and a Ragdale Residency and three Illinois Arts Council Grants for works in progress. I also have numerous publications in literary magazines for adults. My young middle grade novel, REENI’S TURN, written in engaging, accessible free verse, is the story of an introverted, shy heroine who travels from quiet to having a voice, self-consciousness to the ability to perform, and from questioning her own value to trusting her thoughts and emotions. It puts the issue peer pressure front and center—in this case, the pressure to conform to a particular body size. The theme explores the mystery of finding courage when the thing you want most seems fearfully out of reach. A mirror for children in search of body neutral and body positive models, introverted children needing validation, and the universal struggles during puberty, REENI’S TURN was one of the first novels to integrate the damage of the diet industry on younger children (9-11). I was honored to have the book praised by the prolific middle grade author, Claudia Mills: “In lyrical, deeply moving verse, Reeni’s Turn shares both the joy and beauty of dance and the cruel self-doubt caused by our culture’s obsession with thinness. This is an extraordinarily empowering book.” I can be reached through my website, and look forward to providing an exciting and educational author visit! Latest BooksOutside/Inside: New Poems for Children (Paddler Press, 2022) Chasing Clouds (Anthology-Yorkshire Times, 2022) Reeni's Turn (Regal House Publishing, 2020)
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