I grew up in the Willard Hotel in the middle of downtown Washington, D.C., a block from the White House! I’m the original Eloise!! My favorite children’s book was Munro Leaf’s Manners Can Be Fun… and I also loved Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss for my children. I’ve always been a prolific reader.

The first children’s book I wrote was Peter and the Whimper-Whineys, but that wasn’t the first one published. It was a story told to me and my brother – and later to her grandchildren – but it wasn’t in a book. I taped her telling the story to my children and then put the story into poetry (since I’ve always loved to write poetry.) I am most satisfied when I can read the story aloud and the meter and rhyme are in synch.

I taught high school physical education for ten years, although I did my practice teaching on an elementary school level. My most memorable experience was becoming the Head of the Physical Education Department at my alma mater, ten years after graduation, and being in charge of organizing the graduation exercises in the Washington National Cathedral!

My debut “children’s book” was written several years before it was published, and put away until retirement allowed me to put time into seeking publication. Santa’s Birthday Gift was published in 2009. Life has changed immeasurably since I first began writing, since my mother collected my poetry when I started writing it at age 4!! Think back to 1944…!!!

Actually, my inspiration came from her question, “But where’s Santa?”, but the story itself came to me in a dream - and many of the details occurred to me while writing it. I thank God regularly for letting me be the one to write this story. My inspiration for my books is to try to find ways to teach kindness and consideration for others, disguised as fun stories.

The Pinnacle Awards have always been rewarding to me, since the competition is available seasonally and gives me an indication of potential success. Each of my books has won a Pinnacle Achievement Award, since I discovered the awards in 2011 with The Magic Word. Mice & Spiders & Webs…Oh My! has won four other awards including Gold Medal in the Global eBook Awards. It’s a fun book as an introduction to computer terms, and my teenage grandson’s reaction to the conclusion was, “I didn’t see that coming!” (Success is making children happy while reading my books to them…that’s what it’s all about!)

I don’t really look for words to rhyme… they seem to find me! It isn’t just rhyme that’s important but the meter – or the sound - of the words. When I read to school children we often talk about the “music of the words”. (For the record, I was once advised I’d never find a word to rhyme with “silver”.)

My Little Angel was written with younger pre-school children in mind, providing specific ways for small children to learn to be a better person, and to remain safe in this changing world of ours. It also stresses the concept that one is never really alone, and that idea brings comfort to many. (One of my fans asked me to include pets in one of my stories, so this one includes a kitty and a dog!) And yes, I believe I have a Guardian Angel…several of them!

My Little Angel is my last children’s book, so I will not be writing a “series”. However, all of my books, beginning with The Magic Word, include characters from previous books as well as hidden past book covers for readers to discover - so in a way they are a “series of kindness and consideration” books! As far as future writing is concerned, I will have a book of poetry, A Penny for Your Thoughts, released very soon and am looking forward to sharing it. I hope AllAuthor will be including it also! Please stay tuned!

I have always loved books, as have my children and grandchildren, in spite of the digital world. I only provide eBooks since they are more portable and convenient, but small children really need and want physical books to hold and take to bed with them! I truly can’t imagine going to bed myself without reading first, and I hope all parents and grandparents foster this love of reading. (I always have a book with me!)

I’ve always loved Disney, and Cinderella was a favorite as well as the original Parent Trap with Hayley Mills – but I also love Finding Dory!!

I certainly wish I knew some influential people who could help me as an author!! (If any of you are reading this, I’m available!)

Yes!!! (I write them with my “child-eye” in mind!)

I am a mother of four and a grandmother of ten, and I am also an Award-Winning Best-Selling Author! My books have received forty-five 2011-16 National and International awards. I have been writing poetry since before I could write! (My mother wrote down the poetry I wrote as a four-year-old.) I have written eight published rhymed children's stories - as well as seven published rhymed musical plays for elementary school children, which have been performed internationally in over 20 countries. All of my books are also part of two separate fund-raising efforts: http://sbpra.com/curejm/ is for the CureJM Foundation, to help find a cure for Juvenile Myositis, an incurable children's disease. 50% of the cost of the books is donated to the fundraising cause. Another Fundraiser is also available, with the same terms, but this one for an anti-bullying campaign at http://sbpra.com/imbullyfree. Here's a little bit of my background: A real-live Eloise, I grew up in the Willard Hotel in Washington DC (my Dad was the manager), was married and lived in Northern Virginia for twenty years where my husband and I raised our four children. We later moved to Bucks County (Philadelphia PA suburbs) where we lived for 14 years before moving to the Binghamton NY area for 18 years, and we have just now moved back to Bucks County PA. We celebrated our 56th wedding anniversary in June! We are now retired, and we travel in our RV from the east coast to the west coast each year to spend time with our children and grandchildren. I have had a varied career: I was a teacher and coach for ten years in the Washington DC area, and then became a "stay-at-home-Mom" who in my spare-time was a professional newspaper sports photographer and columnist for several years when our boys were playing competitive soccer. When our girls became interested in theater, I became a Dinner Theatre Company Stage Manager (as well as lighting and sound technician) and also was an Assistant Talent Manager for Cathy Parker Talent when our youngest daughter was doing commercials and professional modeling in NYC. When we relocated to the Binghamton NY area, I became the Business Administrator for a software development company handling payroll and contracts. Now, back in PA, I am retired and spend my time marketing my books (which is the other half of writing!)

Not so much anymore. I am under contract for my ninth book for a 2017 release, which will probably be my last children’s book.

My love of poetry, and my love of children combined… Dr. Seuss was also an influence!

My first written book was Peter and the Whimper-Whineys, which was a story my mother told (not read) to me and my brother and later to her grandchildren, which I wanted to capture in written form. Because I love poetry and rhyming, I decided to write it in verse.

I use family and friends’ names when possible. It’s fun for them to see when the book is published. Some of my illustrated characters are also based on family and friends.

I think of The Magic Word, Gimme-Jimmy and Manner-Man as my series of “manners books” since they all have a theme of being polite and thinking of others. Thanks to my awesome illustrator, Kalpart (a team of artists who have illustrated all my books) I am able to use former characters in subsequent books, so they are all about a classroom of kids.

Most of my books have the same underlying subliminal message of the Golden Rule, and teach consideration of others disguised as fun stories.

No. Once a story idea is in my head, the rhymes start to flow.

No. I have children in mind and want to be able to help them become better people.

I have been writing my stories for a very long time – long before I submitted them for publication. So my first “editor” now is my youngest daughter, who happens to be an editor in real-life!

I submit my books to many contests, which leads to some excellent reviews. Reader’s Favorite, Midwest Book Review, and Feathered Quill are favorites. I have been fortunate in getting many awesome reviews.

To me, “story” is a children’s story…

I can’t speak for other authors, but I think one should write about what one knows or feels strongly about…and be sure of one’s facts! (I wouldn’t be able to write a novel, for instance!)

As mentioned earlier, I am working on my last children’s book, My Little Angel, which is for a slightly younger age-level – 3-6 – and also for those who believe in angels!!

No. I prefer my computer to my old typewriter I used when I first started writing, but I still revert to scratching notes on paper to capture a thought!

I feel that entering contests has helped me market my books, since winning an award gives instant credibility. QuotesRain has been very helpful!

Please teach your children to be kind to one another!!!