I wrote my first story at five. O.K. it wasn't published, but, hey, I was five. I submitted my first story at eight. I got such a lovely note in return, I didn't realize, at first, that it was a rejection! But I limited my writing to editorial pieces and a few creative writing assignments.

Then I went to Vanderbilt University to get a M.Ed. and a "real job."

I started to use stories as I worked with children and teens. After more than a decade, I am re-entering the writing world with all of the stories that have helped children learn about the world around them. These are stories that encourage self-esteem, and exploration. I have stories that ask questions that young people ask. And I have stories that give those youngsters the tools to find the answers for themselves. I have several picture books that will probably only be "finished" when an editor forcibly pries them out of my hands and says: "No more Shellie. You can't change anything else."

I am currently working on the final editing a Middle Grade novel while I am writing the first draft of another. I still have my “real job,” and don’t plan on leaving it any time soon.

Thank you for taking the time to get all the way to the end of this mini-bio. I hope you enjoyed reading it even more than I enjoyed writing it.

"Words are your dojo," Clarke age 8, another satified listener.

The Great Dogwash Illustrated by Robert Neubecker, Simon and Schuster 2009

M.Ed. in Human Developmental Counseling from vanderbilt University. The Silver Pen Award. The Four Star Award.

The Ghost Girl of the Chickamauga Battlefield (MG)
Little Chicken (PB)
The Star That Couldn't Twinkle (PB)