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About the Author
On the easel that was handcrafted by a
Native American woman from natural birch wood and named "Wolf" or on
a large desk lovingly and solidly handmade of cherry by local Maine
cabinetmaker Thomas Moser, Sunshine humbly attempts to recreate the
beauty and miracle of nature that she witnesses from the windows of
her second floor studio.
This room was once her youngest son's bedroom; but now has been
transformed to her personal studio - complete with charcoal and
pastel dust, pencils, watercolors, stacks of books, a computer desk
in the corner, a sofa bed against the wall, a large world globe,
endless sketch books, and the absolute presence of surround sound
music. The windows look out over her precious Maine woods that she
cherishes, studies, and sketches. The southern exposure attracts
deer, fox, raccoon, and an endless parade of birds, trees, and
wildflowers.
Sunshine composed Mother Earth ABC when her sons Rob and Jeremy were
12 and 5. At that time she was attending the University of Southern
Maine, majoring in Biology/Pre-Med. One of the requirements amidst
all the chemistry, physics and calculus was to take one non-science
course. Since she had two young sons, it seemed obvious to choose
'Children's Literature' as her elective. In lieu of a final exam,
she had the option to write a children's book for the course and
Mother Earth ABC was born. Her professor and the other students
absolutely loved it! “I kept the drawings and the verse simple
because I wanted to appeal to young children, and open up a world of
miracles perhaps they hadn't seen before”, Sunshine said. The
original manuscript was eventually all but forgotten and collecting
dust among the shelves in her studio until one of her grandchildren
found it. She said, “Yai Yai, I love this book - why don't you
publish it?" Finally, after 25 years, this dream is becoming a
reality.
Sunshine was born in Portland, Maine and has lived in the area all
of her life. She is truly a full-blooded Maniac. The only things
that she loves more than Maine and the treasures of its natural
world are her husband Ben and her two sons, Rob and Jeremy.
She received an Associates Degree in Science from Westbrook College
in Dental Hygiene and is a full registered Dental Hygienist with the
Maine State Board of Dental Examiners. She is also a member of the
American Dental Hygiene Association. A tragic accident in the year
2000 in which she broke both of her arms prevents her from
practicing her profession any longer; but for the many years that
she did, she was considered top in her field and highly respected.
Sunshine has a deep reverence for nature and supports foundations
that try to conserve it for the future. She is a member of the
Sierra Club and the National Wildlife Federation, to mention just a
few. She also supports PETA - People for the Ethical Treatment of
Animals. She is also a supporting member of the International Wolf
Center. She is a member of the Roar Foundation, a non-profit
foundation that provides sanctuary for exotic animals who have
suffered gross mistreatment or neglect. In fact she adopted one of
these animals - an abandoned black leopard named 'Kara'.
Locally she endorses the Portland Museum of Art and Good Shepherd
Food Bank; as well as a local wolf sanctuary called "Runs With
Wolves".
Her most active local endorsement is for an organization called
Riding to The Top, a NARHA (North American Riding for the
Handicapped) supported group where she weekly rides a horse called
"Harry".
Sunshine believes that the preservation of the planet for future
generations is vital and education should begin with the very young.
As Sunshine says, "If we teach children to see the magic and the
beauty that surrounds them, they will ultimately respect it and want
to protect it."
It is to this end that she offers Mother Earth ABC as the first of
many building blocks toward a lasting reverence for the natural
world. |
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