We recently connected with Dr. Dawn Menge and have shared our conversation below.
Dr. Dawn , so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
I am very lucky to have a very active and fulfilling life. My inspiration for my children’s series, Queen Vernita’s Visitors educational series is based on my life’s adventures and experiences. Our family does a lot of traveling together in camping trips, sailing, and Hawaii. Queen Vernita visits the Islands of Enchantment and Queen Vernita conquers the Volcanic Islands was created from my multiple trips to Kona, Hawaii to visit a childhood friend. We swam with sea turtles, visited volcanic National Park, snorkeled, rode a raft down the waterways of a sugar plantation, night swam with large manta rays, and traveled down to the bottom of the Waipio Valley, which is the cover of the book. My most recent release is based on my best friend’s family who moved to Wyoming. We took a road trip there and learned all about their favorite outdoor activities, explored the wildlife areas, learned about collecting moose and elk antlers.
Queen Vernita sleeps by the sandy fireside is about our yearly family camping trips to Jalama beach. The Queen and her friends fly kites, body surf, camp, meet the racoons and Ostriches, and made yummy smores over a campfire.
My next book is a prek-1 grade read based on a trip to New England to see the glorious Fall colors. The Queen and her traveling friends will be visiting the nature trolls, lighthouses, maple tree farms and play in the Fall leaves.
This summer I will be attending an author event in Italy in which I will be hosting a workshop on using your real life as your inspiration and visiting Rome. This will be the Queen’s next adventure. Queen Vernita visits the Gladiators of Rome.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I have been teaching students with severe cognitive delays for twenty-five years. Many of my students are included in my books to help educate and inform the readers about how children with disabilities continue to live full and happy lives exploring and learning. I have many awards from the Conquering disabilities with film festival including the Special Recognition Champion Award and the Best Writer Award. We have had a wonderful time with our students working in the community, swimming with the dolphins at sea world, attending college, bowling, miniature golfing, and succeeding in academics. I am also a teacher support provider and Induction coach for our new teachers. This is a job I enjoy immensely.
I also currently am a lecturer at the local university teaching the master’s and credentialing students Special education law and curriculum methods. I would like to continue this avenue when I retire from K-12 teaching.
In my spare time I write, and educational series based on my life’s adventures and named after my grandmother. There are fourteen books in the series ranging from Prek-8th grade. The series has won over eighty International literary awards and is read all over the world. The young reader can continue reading the adventures all through their childhood. The academic levels increase with the child’s growth.
I have recently started my own brand in publishing titled the Land of Quails. I am very excited to be able to continue the Queen Vernita’s series and the Dragon’s Breath series under my new brand.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The most important professional growth step that I made was to join professional organizations. I joined the Society of Children’s book writers and illustrators and attended many of their conferences and workshops. I gain invaluable knowledge from these professionals. I also joined the United States Board on Books for Young children. I became their ambassador for California and was on the committee to choose the best books for/about people with disabilities. I attended their conferences in New York City and Seatle.
I have attended many events with Story Monster Magazine out of Tempe, Arizona, There I met many fabulous authors who encouraged each other. The publisher Linda Radke was always helpful in her advice and wisdom. I write book reviews and judge their literary contests. My students write book reports and keep the books. They love doing this.
I have recently been appointed to the board of Hindi’s libraries. It’s a nonprofit organization that provides books for children all over the world. We are working on an event with Reading is fundamental of Southern California for Read Across America in March. We will also collaborate with San Bernardino County schools during their reading rally in Oct.
My best advice for others is to say yes to new experiences. One contact will lead to many more and you really do not know who you will be impacting when you reach out to others.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I begin to feel overwhelmed by my to do list. I break it down into parts and complete each one as I go along. It is also very helpful to stay organized. I have trouble when I begin to have piles and I can’t think until I’ve cleared up the piles. I also think it is important to evaluate what it is that you are doing. If you are constantly feeling overwhelmed, it might be because what you are doing isn’t important to you. Follow your heart and your passions and you will be a happy person. Happy and contented people accomplish more with less effort.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://queenvernita.net/
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/dawnmenge
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dawn.menge1
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/menge-dr-dawn-72313419?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3Bg%2B3o7cyvT46SmYVcLEl7yw%3D%3D
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/queenvernita
