Anthology	Contest Rules	Writing Resources
Award Ceremony	Eastern Shore Authors	ESRC

Larry Points

He’s a native of Cape Girardeau, Missouri.  It was there that he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Southeast Missouri University in 1966.  Larry became a park ranger with the National Park Service at the Grand Canyon.

In the 1990’s Larry began collaboration with a naturalist colleague to privately publish a series of children’s nature books.  He wanted to include unusual pictures along with accurate text about the seashore.  He also wanted to answer questions by Atlantic Coast visitors and assist teachers who may have these subjects in their curriculum.  One of Larry’s interests is photography and he uses his own photography along with others who contribute to his books.  Larry is retired but still finds time to visit schools and teach about his programs while offering his books to children.
 Some of Larry Points books include: Assateague – Island of the Wild Ponies, Ribbons of Sand – Exploring Atlantic Beaches, and Barrier Islands are for the Birds.

Cindy Ward

Cindy has written a book called Cookie’s Week, which is very humorous.  It’s about a cat called Cookie and it tells of the mess that this cat makes everyday.  The text is patterned and easy for beginning readers to try out.  Tomie DePaola illustrated this book really nicely and added his own touch to it.  The ending of the story will allow the children to predict how Cookie will spend the next day.

Some really neat activities to go along with this book include sharing the book aloud and talking about cats, maybe adding a little bit of their own experiences into it.  There are a lot of examples of cause and effect and you can have the students pick those out by stating, which was the cause and then what came out of it.  This book goes through the days of the week and you could have the class put those in order.

A letter direct from Dana Simpson

When I was 12, everything we had was destroyed in a flood. I resolved that the safest place to keep the things we love is in our minds and hearts. I realize that “each day is a gift,” and have tucked many precious moments away in the bursting files of my memory. These are the inspiration I draw from for my illustrations and stories. As they surface in paint or words, a joy fills me that I hope to pass on to each of you.

I adore creating things whether it is a song, picture or story, a piece of handmade ceramic or a playhouse for my children.

My company, Chesapeake East Ceramics has grown to sell my handmade ceramic designs and décor internationally, and I am proud to say several pieces of my work have found their way into museum collections. My husband and I also delight in renovating old historic buildings! Our ceramic studio is in a converted  old brick hotel on the Wicomico River in Salisbury, Maryland, and we are starting on a magical house that we call the “secret house”. It has been empty and waiting for someone’s loving imagination for 30 years!

We are very fortunate to enjoy the sweeping marshes and big sky of the Chesapeake Bay. The natural beauty that surrounds us provides constant inspiration for the rich colors, patterns and animal characters that frolic through my work. Nothing pleases me more then the joy of seeing an idea evolve. It isn’t uncommon to find our whole family, including young Ruby and Eli working on our creations. Much of my work was created with a baby on my lap or a small boy running his train down my arm.  These days a blank pad doesn’t stand a chance in our house! My mottos are “imagine positive” and “some day’s humor is everything, but I also highly value the process of living as reflected in Homer’s century-old advise ; Remember… The Journey is the Thing.

Best wishes
Dana