Deanie Humphrys-Dunne has written four children's books. She focuses on stories promoting positive messages for children, and often features animals, especially horses. She lives in New Fairfield with her husband, Francis. They have two sons and a dog, Elliot, who has been featured in some of her books.
Q: Horses feature prominently in your stories. Why is that?
A: I grew up on a horse farm called Sweetbrier. Now it's called Lion Hill Farm. My dad decided to teach me how to ride horses, and that changed everything for me. I think it's a good way to get my ideas across to the reader. Most children really like animals.
Q: When did you start writing, and why?
A: I took two courses in Redding in the 1990s. It was 1995 and 1996, I studied with the
Institute for Children's Literature. After I graduated, I wrote a little bit. It wasn't until 2009 when I wrote my first book. I decided I really wanted to make a difference for children. "Tails of Sweetbrier" won a Feathered Quill award and is a finalist in the CLIPPA awards. The winner will be announced Oct. 1.
The reason I started writing was that I really want to be a role model for children. Anything is possible if you persevere. "Tails of Sweetbrier" shows the truth of this. My dad made a decision that changed my life. It shows anything is possible if you never give up.
Q: What happened?
A: I had a disability, and a doctor said I wouldn't be able to learn how to walk. My dad picked me up, carried me out and said, "Don't listen to him." When I wanted to learn how to ride horses and jump like my sisters did, he was concerned, but I said, "You teach blind people to ride. It's not fair if you don't teach me." He said, "You can do anything you want, but this will take a little bit longer."
Dad always told us we couldn't give up once we started something. This really was a good thing. Just refuse to give up. You could be really close to your goal and if you give up, you won't get there.
If I gave up, I never would have known horses, learned to ride or learned to walk. It's just what I believe.
Q: Which of your books are fiction and which are non-fiction?
A: All of my books are fiction except for my first, "Tails of Sweetbrier."
Q: Are all your books based on your life experiences?
A: Not exactly. The fiction books are told from the animals' point of view and are very funny. Each has a life lesson.
In "Charlie the Horse," he's unfocused, unsure about things, he has to learn to set goals. In "Charlene the Star," she's supposed to be a racehorse, but she has other ideas. She has to find a way to show her trainer that she doesn't like being a racehorse. It's okay to have different talents than your friends.
In "Charlene the Star and Hattie's Heroes," the animals work together setting goals and accomplish a lot of things. Charlene the Star decides to start a new business as a coach for horses.
Q: Your sister,
Holly Humphrys-Bajaj, does the illustrations for your books. How has that worked out?
A: My sister is very gifted. The illustrations help my stories come to life. I'd have to do stick figures if it weren't for her. She designs the covers, too.
Q: You are also an award-winning blogger. When did you start blogging? Where can people find your blog?
Q: Are you working on a new book now?
A: Yes, Holly is working on the illustrations now. It has some of the same characters from "Charlene the Star and Hattie's Heroes." Hattie the chicken is in the new book. Her chicken friends are very depressed, so they decide to put on a talent show. Charlene the Star is trying to become Horse of the Year, and there's a little romance.
copyright Deanie Humphrys-Dunne 2014
information from Danbury News Times interview.
Deanie Humphrys-Dunne has written four children's books. She focuses on stories promoting positive messages for children, and often features animals, especially horses. She lives in New Fairfield with her husband, Francis. They have two sons and a dog, Elliot, who has been featured in some of her books.
Q: Horses feature prominently in your stories. Why is that?
A: I grew up on a horse farm called Sweetbrier. Now it's called Lion Hill Farm. My dad decided to teach me how to ride horses, and that changed everything for me. I think it's a good way to get my ideas across to the reader. Most children really like animals.
Q: When did you start writing, and why?
A: I took two courses in Redding in the 1990s. It was 1995 and 1996, I studied with the
Institute for Children's Literature. After I graduated, I wrote a little bit. It wasn't until 2009 when I wrote my first book. I decided I really wanted to make a difference for children. "Tails of Sweetbrier" won a Feathered Quill award and is a finalist in the CLIPPA awards. The winner will be announced Oct. 1.
The reason I started writing was that I really want to be a role model for children. Anything is possible if you persevere. "Tails of Sweetbrier" shows the truth of this. My dad made a decision that changed my life. It shows anything is possible if you never give up.
Q: What happened?
A: I had a disability, and a doctor said I wouldn't be able to learn how to walk. My dad picked me up, carried me out and said, "Don't listen to him." When I wanted to learn how to ride horses and jump like my sisters did, he was concerned, but I said, "You teach blind people to ride. It's not fair if you don't teach me." He said, "You can do anything you want, but this will take a little bit longer."
Dad always told us we couldn't give up once we started something. This really was a good thing. Just refuse to give up. You could be really close to your goal and if you give up, you won't get there.
If I gave up, I never would have known horses, learned to ride or learned to walk. It's just what I believe.
Q: Which of your books are fiction and which are non-fiction?
A: All of my books are fiction except for my first, "Tails of Sweetbrier."
Q: Are all your books based on your life experiences?
A: Not exactly. The fiction books are told from the animals' point of view and are very funny. Each has a life lesson.
In "Charlie the Horse," he's unfocused, unsure about things, he has to learn to set goals. In "Charlene the Star," she's supposed to be a racehorse, but she has other ideas. She has to find a way to show her trainer that she doesn't like being a racehorse. It's okay to have different talents than your friends.
In "Charlene the Star and Hattie's Heroes," the animals work together setting goals and accomplish a lot of things. Charlene the Star decides to start a new business as a coach for horses.
Q: Your sister,
Holly Humphrys-Bajaj, does the illustrations for your books. How has that worked out?
A: My sister is very gifted. The illustrations help my stories come to life. I'd have to do stick figures if it weren't for her. She designs the covers, too.
Q: You are also an award-winning blogger. When did you start blogging? Where can people find your blog?
Q: Are you working on a new book now?
A: Yes, Holly is working on the illustrations now. It has some of the same characters from "Charlene the Star and Hattie's Heroes." Hattie the chicken is in the new book. Her chicken friends are very depressed, so they decide to put on a talent show. Charlene the Star is trying to become Horse of the Year, and there's a little romance.
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[Jan. 16, 2016] To capture and hold a child's attention long enough to teach something of value is a real challenge. Nothing does that more effectively than a story about animals. While many children's books do that in a fictional setting, children's book author Deanie Humphrys-Dunne writes engaging books that teach valuable life lessons that are based in fact.
"The purpose of Tails of Sweetbrier is to encourage every child to follow his/her dreams," Deanie stated. "This message would benefit every child. The journey a child takes by reading this story will show that perseverance is the key to success. The closing statement of the book is: 'You have the power to make your dreams come true so reach for them and don’t accept anything less.”
