Samara Cole Doyon completed USM’s graduate teacher preparation program in 2019 after completing her Bachelor of Arts in English in 2008. Her children’s book Magnificent Homespun Brown was awarded the 2020 Lupine Award, 2021 International Literacy Association’s Award for Primary Fiction, and the 2020 Coretta Scott King Honor award for Kaylani Juanita’s illustrations. Her most recent book, Next Level: A Hymn in Gratitude for Neurodiversity has been on several 2024 best book lists.
If you had asked Samara what she wanted to do with her life after high school her answer would have been “I want to teach English language arts, and I want to be a writer” and she has done both. She started this journey by obtaining her BA in English and immediately got her certification as an educational technician to begin working in elementary schools. After taking a break from learning to be able to make a living, she went back to gain her certificate to teach, aiming to work with grades 4-6 as her time in elementary schools had shown her “how fun it is to be around young children and how magical it is to help them learn something new.”
Samara was inspired to write children’s books when she was in graduate school at USM in the ETEP teacher certification program. She was pregnant with her daughter when she was learning about the importance of teaching children’s literature. She then realized that she wanted books that would have certain messages for her own children to help them feel informed and empower their sense of self. Samara says that when it comes to the most rewarding aspect of being a children’s book author is “knowing something you’ve offered to the universe has found a home with someone else. That your words have made an impact.”
When asked if there is any advice that she would give to an aspiring author she suggests writing workshops and joining writing groups where other respected authors will give you feedback. Following writers and publishers on social media as they may share opportunities that may help with publishing. Also, working on storytelling that will help find your book a publisher, not just the story ideas. To find out more about this amazing author at her website.