Branching Out!

Hello! My name is Jannifer Powelson, and I am the author of three children’s books, “Rachel and Sammy Visit the Prairie”, “Rachel and Sammy Visit the Forest”, and “Rachel and Sammy Learn About Trees”. All three of these titles are “new and improved” versions and are being republished by Rising Phoenix Press. I’m currently working on my fourth book in the Rachel and Sammy series, “Rachel and Sammy Learn to Conserve”.

I love writing Rachel and Sammy books, because they encompass many of my favorite things. Not only do I write the storyline for these educational children’s books, but I also take the photographs that are featured in the books. The books combine my love of nature, writing, photography, and education. Realistic illustrations by Kalpart add both to the fun and learning elements of these books.

Although writing and marketing Rachel and Sammy books takes a lot of my time, I am also employed as a Resource Conservationist at the Stark County Soil and Water Conservation District in Illinois. Because the books relate to my job, and I use the books when doing educational programs at work, sometimes I feel like my two professions are intertwined.

My two young daughters enjoy giving me ideas for books, providing input, and helping to haul books from place to place in an effort to promote and sell my books. While they are helping me, they also learn about books and nature!

 

My first book, “Rachel and Sammy Visit the Prairie” was a project that was a long time coming. Like many of my ideas, it hit me out of the blue. After my older daughter was born in 2003, the idea popped into my head to combine the photos that I’d taken years before, with an educational but entertaining storyline to teach children about prairie plants. The two cute and furry critters featured in the books, Rachel Raccoon and Sammy Skunk, also came to me at the same time. After years of doing wildlife research, mainly with raccoons, but having occasional “skunk experiences”, it was natural to choose them to lead children from around the world (or at least the Midwest) on a fun learning journey!  Ideas for more books soon followed, and now my books are part of me and my family.

I learned a lot for the three years that I was associated with my previous publisher, and now it’s time to put that knowledge to good use, as I branch out with two others to publish our books under our own label, Rising Phoenix Press. As we work together to publish and promote each other’s books, we will tap into each other’s talents and learn together. I’m excited to be associated with my two colleagues, Amanda Thrasher and Kinsy McVay and look forward to the future.