About the Author:
Award-winning Donna Marie Seim's love of children's literature has always been her passion.

The Magic Hat, her fifth picture storybook is about a little Norwegian Nisse named Nils who loses his magic when he loses his hat. Troll Forest, a Norwegian Tale, finds Peter alone in a forest at night and his surprise meeting with a Troll Family. Bella and Jingles, is about a young girl in Alaska who rescues a baby polar bear. Satchi and Little Star, the story of a young island girl who tries to catch and tame a wild horse. Where is Simon, Sandy? The story of a little donkey that wouldn't quit. Donde esta Simon, Sandy?, Where is Simon, Sandy? In Spanish.

Donna has also penned four Chapter Books: Cheeky and Charlemagne and its sequel, Cheeky and Charlemagne and The Great Sabotage, is the story of a river otter and pine Martin who are on a mission to save all the furry folk in the North Country. Charley, a historical novel based on a true story, has also been adapted as a play. Hurricane Mia, a Caribbean adventure story. Asante Sana, Tanzania, an adult arm chair travel book. It takes you on safari in Africa.

Donna is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a BSSW in the field of Social Welfare. Donna also holds a MA in Special Education from Lesley University. Donna lives in Newbury, Massachusetts, and Denmark, Maine, with her husband, Martin, and her dog, Charlie. You can see all of her work on [...]

About the Illustrator:
Susan Spellman, fine artist and illustrator, has her home and studio in Newburyport, where she has lived and worked since 1975. She started her art career as a staff illustrator at a filmstrip company in Westport CT after getting a BA in art from Marymount College in Tarrytown, NY.

She began a career as an illustrator of children's books and magazines, illustrating more than 45 books to date. Recently, five of the books she has illustrated have won national and regional awards. Susan has also illustrated eight additional books by Donna Marie Seim.

While continuing to work in illustration as a career, Susan also increasingly focused on her interest in fine arts, exhibiting paintings in numerous regional galleries and art organizations throughout the North Shore of Massachusetts. She is an avid "Plein Air" painter, and a member of The Newburyport Ten Plein Air Painters. In her illustrations and fine art, a favorite subject of hers has been people, their expressions and movements, so dance and portraiture are favorite themes. Her preferred mediums are oil, watercolor, and drawing.

Susan is an art instructor specializing in drawing and watercolor, and a visiting artist to schools and art organizations throughout New England, sharing the process of illustration or techniques in drawing and painting.

She is a member of the North Shore Arts Association in Gloucester MA, the Newburyport Art Association and the Greater Haverhill Art Association. Susan enjoys sharing her life and career with her husband Jay McGovern and their 3 daughters.

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