Raven is the author and poet of more than 20 traditionally published children's books. Her books have received several awards including Creative Child magazine's Best Book of the Year, The Royal Dragonfly, The Big Book award, NABE's Pinnacle for Best in Children's Poetry, The Wishing Shelf, The Moonbeam Children's Book award, Mom's Choice, and won the Little Peeps Finalist.
She writes poetry for a variety of magazines such as Highlights for Children, Highlights Hello, HighFive, Babybug, Ladybug, Spider, Cricket, Jack and Jill, Humpty Dumpty, Fun for Kidz, and The School Magazine.
Raven’s work is included in anthologies, DVD’s and CD’s, educational material, and home schooling programs. She has received Merit awards for poetry from the SCBWI, and was voted Poetry Soup’s “Top hottest poet” after the release of her debut book. She writes a monthly column, The Book Bug, for Story Monsters Ink magazine, and manages the magazine's activity center, Kids Corner. Passionate about children’s literacy and poetry, she enjoys presenting children’s programs in libraries and classrooms.
Raven is a writer for Reading Gate. Her fiction and non-fiction books are used for children learning English as a second language. FMI about ReadingGate click here.
Raven is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), the International Literacy Association (ILA), and serves as Creative and Publishing Advisor with Red Clover Reader.
She lives in New York’s Hudson Valley with her husband, kids, and Ragamuffin cat, Lilac. Raven enjoys time with her family, hiking, music, and reading. She's a huge fan of spring flowers, sunny beaches, and warm butterscotch chocolate chip cookies!
FUN FACTS
During my elementary school years, I mused that growing up to be a Fairy Godmother was the best "job" I could think of. I'd spend hours in the field of our family's property, cat by my side, notebook in lap, writing poetry and creating stories.
Music was one of my first loves and in my late teens and early twenties, I played with bands and focused on songwriting. I play piano, guitar and have taken drum lessons. Because a good friend chose to take up the clarinet in the school band, I did also. Secretly, it was the flute I really wanted to play though (on my bucket list!). During my tenure at Atlantic Records in NYC, I had the fun opportunity to mingle with talents such as Mick Jagger and Snoop Doggy Dog. A couple of my songs were written for and delivered to artists I admired, like Bonnie Raitt and Patty Smyth.
Do you still buy a greeting card now and again? Then you may be reading one of my verses! Years back, I transitioned from the music business to writing poetry for greeting cards. Many of them are still in circulation.
My poetry book, A Star Full of Sky, was written in its entirety literally in the night time hours, outdoors, under starry skies over a period of time.
My birthday is January 22, and 22 is my favorite (and lucky) number. As an Aquarius, I've engaged in and enjoy diverse activities such as astrology, daily yoga, standing on my head every morning, hands on healing, cooking and baking, tree climbing, and giving lots of hugs to my family.
If my pen could talk, it would tell me there are still plenty of stories to tell, and poems to write.
I often get asked who inspires me …
I love reading poetry by many contemporary poets such as Charles Ghigna, Lee Bennett Hopkins, Kristine O'Connell George, and Rebecca Kai Dotlich. I’ve learned a lot from Aileen Fisher’s style and her writing is dear to my poet’s heart. The most influential person in my life though has been my own father. He was a published poet in his own right who released several successful compilations throughout his lifetime. He taught me cadence, authenticity, translating poems to spoken word, and more:
