Meet Dr. Dawn Menge and Her Grandmother Queen Vernita
Jacquie’s
notes: Writing was not Dawn’s first vocational choice. Yet, happenstance, shock
of recognition, or just plain fate caused her to move on a new and exciting
path. The following is an account of Dawn’s journey into writing and may offer
an inspiration to the young writers who follow this blog.
I was assigned to write a book
in one of the math classes required to obtain my teaching credential;
therefore, writing the “Queen Vernita Educational Series” was purely
accidental. I chose to compose my book
on the days of the week, months of the year and the seasons and included those
closest to me as characters in my story. I wove the content into an adventure
that I truly hoped all would enjoy, both young and old.
I titled the book written for
this assignment as Queen Vernita’s Visitors. Queen Vernita is named after my
grandmother Vernita, who was an impressive business woman and a world traveler.
Her adventures consist of twelve friends, one for each month. The twelve
friends are named after the children in my family. I assumed that they wouldn’t
mind and couldn’t protest too loudly anyway.
I wanted to promote imagination and being active. Each new visitor to the castle learned something new.
As it turned out, Queen
Vernita’s Visitors received first place in the EVVY awards within the first few
months of its release date. Additional awards received at later dates are the
Scooter Award, an A+ rating from the American Children’s book society, as well
as awards from Reader’s Favorites, Readers’ Views, purple Dragonfly, and a silver in the Mom’s choice Awards.
My Next Book?
I soon began participating in
interviews in which I was asked when my next book was coming out. “Next book?”
I hadn’t thought about writing another book. However, after receiving so much
encouragement from teachers, parents, other authors, family, and the children
who read Queen Vernita’s Visitors, I decided to use my travels and experiences
of my family, as the basis continue the Queen’s adventures.
When Queen Vernita met Sir
Heathy Bean the Astronomer, I drew upon the expertise of my brother, and co-author
Heath Rhoades. Heath’s character wears a lab coat and bunny slippers. In real
life Heath is an astronomy team leader, at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in
Wrightwood, California. He participates
in asteroid and comet astrometry. Astrometry is
the area of study that focuses on precise measurements of the positions and
movements of stars and other celestial bodies, as well as explaining these movements
He also
conducts research in light curve studies. (I don’t believe he wears bunny
slippers at work- at least on most days) Sir Heathy Bean came from the nickname
I used to call him when we were growing up. This twelve-month adventure through
the solar system has won a USA Best Book, Purple Dragonfly, Readers’ Views,
EVVY, and silver Moms’ Choice Awards.
My most recent book, which
will be published in the near future, is based on a journey up the Snake and
Columbia River in an old fashioned paddle boat.
Queen Vernita saw beautiful waterfalls, rode in a jet boat, learned
about jazz music, waterways and the Salmon run.
To view the complete series
and to learn about my adventures, travels, and additional awards please visit
my author's page.
