Posted by Codys Mommy on in Original Stories

Here’s a Q&A I did recently with Mignon Spencer, author of a bilingual children’s poem, called “I’m Living My Dream/Hago mi sueño realidad.”

Tell us a little about yourself and about your book, “Hago mi sueño realidad.”

I am a native Georgian, as in Georgia, United States. I’m married to Clarence Spencer and we make our home in Hampton, Georgia.  We have one adult son, Solomon Dante. A graduate of Georgia State University with a BA degree in Psychology/English. I am also President/Owner of Dante’s Publishing, a three-year old company that started as a self-publisher for my own books when expanded to provide services to new and unknown authors.  I am also a poet, trainer, ordained minister and have authored two other books of poetry, Pearls from the Soul and The Maze.

The book I’m Living My Dream is an inspirational  rhyme that encourages little people to hold fast to their dreams.  I believe that children are inspired with their life dreams at an early age.  And oftentimes they are taken away by playmates and well-meaning adults. There are three messages in this book:

1. If you throw your dream away, your life will be empty.
2. Don’t allow anyone to take it away and…
3. If it happens, you can pick it up again.

Is the theme based on a real-life experience? If so, can you tell us about it?

The theme is based on a fictional story.  A friend asked me to write it for her dream fulfillment conference.  While I was reciting it, someone from audience came up to me to say that she saw a vision of a children’s book while I was speaking.  I thanked her.  Later on, I started thinking about what she said, and a year later I published I’m living My Dream.  Interestingly, I was speaking poetry at a church event and recited the poem again.  A lady in the audience approached me tears running down her face.  She said the poem described her story exactly.  She left that day thinking about reclaiming her dream to be come a writer.  This poem is extremely powerful and it’s fictional–but inspired by God.
Do you speak Spanish? If not, what prompted you to author a bilingual book?

I do not speak Spanish fluently.  However, I love the language and studied it for four semesters in college.I decided to present it with Spanish because of the numerous Spanish-speaking people who have come to the U.S.  I had not seen any bilingual books so I stepped out to make a difference.  Also, I thought it would be a good resource for kids learning either language.  A large county purchased it for their 2008 English as a Second Language program; I was extremely excited about that.

Do you have any more bilingual books for children in the works? If so, can you tell us what it is about?

Have only been discussing a second book that would address children living/coping in a diverse environment.  Any thoughts on other topics would be welcomed.

The book is available for purchase on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com. Contact Mignon Spencer via her web site: www.dantespublishing.com