Meet Dvora Swickle

In school I was not a very good student.  Dyslexia  with unbendable comprehension problems I learned to read fanatically and fast.  I read as quickly as I could so I would not have to read again.  The teacher would smile at me and say, “Good job you have been practicing, very nice.”  After my fear of reading would subside I would sit and watch the words go by.  Saying each word before the other student who was reading and thought, how smart am I.  The real issue was, I had no idea what anyone was reading or what the topic of conversation was and answering questions were out of the question.

                  I found my self writing poetry.  Broken in sentence structure, the rules were different I could really be who I wanted to be with poetry.  I could describe my heart into words and others understood me beautifully.  I found my nitch, but it did nothing for learning math and taking tests.

                  I found myself writing poetry and songs for various bands and then for my own bands.  I sang until my voice let go. 

                  After my girls were born I wrote poetry here and there making them laugh at dinner until my daughter ask me to write it down, so I could repeat them to them for memorizing is a very difficult thing for me.  I memorize by seeing a picture in my head and can bring it up, if I had written it or drew it.

                  I didn’t really read to other kids because I felt my poetry was odd.  After a few comments by grownups that I needed to learn how to write properly I was fizzled into thinking who am I to think I can write, being a poor student all my life.  I love to create, draw, and write songs, poetry, stories and act. My illustrations were off, unlined and prospectively kittywampus.  I wanted to draw so bad but seeing lines are a hardship for me.  Through the years I have retrained myself.

                  Then a parent heard me read on of my stories to my girls I do not remember where I was, she looked at me and said, “You write like Shel  Silverstien, that was a fabulous story and you read it so beautifully.”  I sat there stunned as she got up and walked away thinking, you have to be kidding I actually write like someone who is famous.  I asked my girls who he was and my daughter said, “The Giving Tree.”  When I show’d my stories to my sister she said the same thing. I had to find out who he was and read he works.

                  I found he loved to draw.  But he drew from his head.  In school he was a poor student and exited schools several times due to bad grades.  He found a nitch in drawing for playboy and articles in magazines.   He never thought about children’s book until someone asked him to write them.  He had never really studied them before; in this he created his own style as he had done all his life. 

                  I feel I am close to this writer without knowing him at all. Except for what I know by reading his works.  The Giving Tree is fabulous and it shows life from small to tall.  Explains how life gives freely and how it can be taken just as fast, a great book worth reading to all ages.  I guess I have to say I feel close to this author but I am also compassionate about the famous Dr. Suess. 

                  What author do you like?  Why do you like them?  Does this author remind you of yourself or someone you someday wish to be like?  What books do you read and is that the type of book you would write or just read.  Thank you so much for your precious time, TTRAB remember ‘Time To Read Another Book’.  

Author Bio: 

Dvora Swickle  lives in the quaint fishing village of Gig Harbor, Washington.  There the grass is green, the trees are tall, and the animals roam freely.  Come and join her as she share her many tales.  Dvora’s words will tantalize your tongue and tickle your thoughts.

Dvora Swickle (AKA D.A. Johnson) has been entertaining and writing for children (and her two kids) for over 20 years. Dvora drove school bus for 10 years, creating poems for children to read upon arrival to school. Dvora loves to read in school classrooms, children are captivated by her voice. Dvora works with special needs children and is devoted to helping students 18 to 21 transition from high school into the work community and living independently.   Stories can help students understand problems without feeling it is directed towards them personally. Working in the school system for 17 years, has been a blessing for her and the students around her, finding time to read during library time Dvora enjoys reading and putting fun voices to her characters, inviting children to take part.  Every time she reads "sweet green grass" kids are encouraged to raise there hands.  Dvora loves seeing all the fingers in the air, makes her feel so appreciated and warm in knowing they are really listening.

She has written over 40 stories and is the author of two poetry collections. The first poetry collection "Dress Up" is available in paperback. The second collection "Kittywampus" is available in eBook format.

Dvora encourages young children to develop a life-long love for language and reading. She believes that poetry can play a big role in motivating children to read. "Poetry helps young readers understand language, words and feelings through rhythm and rhyme.  Children feel comfortable with poems because it's like playtime with words."

In Dvora's poetry and stories, a positive attitude toward life is the major theme and each story ends with a moral. "Many of my stories present situations where something goes wrong," she says.  "I use loving characters alongside funny and familiar situations to show ways in which we can overcome any obstacles in school or home with patience and grace."

Dvora's motto is T.T.R.A.B,  "Time To Read Another Book".

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