Sherrill S. Cannon
Come and meet awesome award-winning author of children’s books Sherrill S. Cannon on Leyla Atke’s website!
Interview with Sherrill Cannon by Leyla Atke
INTERVIEW WITH AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR SHERRILL S. CANNON. #BOOKS
December 18, 2014
I am so honored to interview an award-winning author of multiple children’s books, Sherrill S. Cannon for my official author website. A former teacher, Sherrill S. Cannon of New Hope, Pennsylvania, is now retired and travels the country with her husband in an RV, going from coast to coast to visit their children and grandchildren, sharing her books along the way.
Author Sherrill S. Cannon’s children’s books have won her twenty-eight prestigious awards in 2011-14. In the past five years, this award-winning former teacher has had six books and seven children’s plays published. Her seventh will be released in 2015!
Thank you, Leyla, for this great opportunity! I am so pleased to be here.
Sherrill, could you please tell about yourself? Where you grew up, the places you lived, your family and your current place of living?
I was born in West Palm Beach, FL but only stayed there until I was 9 months old! My hotel-manager Canadian father took us to the Royal Muskoka Hotel (Ontario, Canada) for several years before he became the Manager of the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C. when I was 6. We lived there for 10 years – which made me sort of an “original Eloise”! My husband and I married when we were 20 and 22 respectively, and lived in Northern Virginia for 19 years, ten of which I was a teacher, and later a newspaper sports photographer and columnist while raising our 4 children. Multiple years and moves (and jobs, including running a Dinner Theatre, and being an Office Manager) later, we are now in New Hope, PA, a suburb of Philly, where we are retired (if you don’t count my husband’s consulting business and my children’s books…) and traveling in our RV. We celebrated our 54th Anniversary in June!
2. What kind of person are you?
I like to think that I am a giving person… I truly love to give, and make others happy. My greatest achievement in life are my children who are all contributing nicely to society… well, that and the success of my books for children!
3. You are an author of many children’s books. Could you please tell from where comes your inspiration for writing?
The first children’s book I wrote was Peter and the Whimper-Whineys, which was a story my mother told to me as a child, and later to her grandchildren, which I wanted to get into written form so that it would not be lost. Because I have always loved poetry – and the rhyme and meter of words – it seemed wonderful to combine both story-telling and poetry…so that children could hear the music of the words. My first published children’s book was Santa’s Birthday Gift, which was inspired by my granddaughter who, after listening to me read the story of the Nativity to her, looked at me and asked, “But where’s Santa?” That story actually came to me in a dream that night – and it’s not about what Santa gets, but what Santa gives…a promise to baby Jesus to bring gifts at Christmas to celebrate His birthday.
What are your books about? Why do you write?
All of my books try to teach values to children – I guess once a teacher, always a teacher – but they are all disguised as fun stories! “The Golden Rule” is the subliminal message…if everyone could treat others as they wish to be treated themselves, think of what a wonderful world we could have!!!
My books also have strong social messages – about thinking of others, manners, how to cope with bullying, self-esteem…and also are all part of two ongoing fundraisers: http://sbpra.com/CureJM and http://sbpra.com/Imbullyfree – where 50% of the cost of the books goes to each charity.
5. What you are currently working on? Any future plans?
My seventh book, Teacher’s Warning, has just gone into Illustration with my wonderful illustrator, Kalpart, and will be released in April 2015 (hopefully!) Please stay tuned for another rhyming story, with some familiar characters, but a very different storyline!
6. What are your hobbies?
Other than keeping up with all the social media, I love to read – and spend time in the RV, exploring the beauty of the U.S. as we travel to Florida and California and back each year to spend time with our family (and, I admit, to stay warm!)
You can find out more about author and her books at her website: http://sbpra.com/sherrillscannon/
Leyla is the author of Charm, an Amazing Story of a Little Black Cat available at amazon!
Sherrill S. Cannon's Blog 