Author's Bio
Wordsmithing—a wonderful and challenging pursuit.
Denise Doyen studied creative writing and architectural/art design at Stanford University (BA) and directing at the American Film Institute (Masters). For many years she worked in the world of children's television where she directed the beloved Disney Channel series Welcome to Pooh Corner and Dumbos Circus as well as choreographing other productions for children including the video collection The Mother Goose Treasury and the safety special Too Smart for Strangers.
Leaving show biz to raise her two sons, Denise embraced mom-dom while working part-time as a graphic designer. However, her first love was writing. So, when her eldest left for college, Doyen set off on a new creative career; she studied writing for children at UCLA. She joined SCBWI (Society for Children's Writers & Illustrators), founded GOYA critique group, claimed a chair in Barbara Bottner's Master Class (where she still works hard every-other Monday night) as well as being a current member of Backroom Writers critique group.
Ms. Doyen loves amusing words, especially clever or elegant portmanteaus. In her own story poems, she often invents compound words that she calls “wordjams”—meaningful nonsense, like ‘scoutaprowl’, ‘quietiquette’ and ‘ripplesnaked’. Her wordjams have been noted as original language constructs, and excerpted in writing articles, teaching manuals and several language-art books which celebrate creative wordplay. She is proud to be a contributor to the poetic artform.
Doyen’s first book, Once Upon a Twice, a rousing mousey nonsense adventure in the tradition of Jabberwocky, debuted to starred reviews. It was a Junior Library Guild selection and included in several 'Best of' lists including Kirkus Reviews "Best Children's Books of the Year". The book won the "EB White Read Aloud Honor," and Denise was awarded the "Ridgway Honor" for outstanding debut in the world of children's picture books.
Her second book, The Pomegranate Witch, also received a starred review and landed on several “Best of” and “Top 10” lists including Amazon Editors’ Best Children’s Books of the Year, School Library Journal’s FUSE #8’s Best Rhyming, Best Holiday and Best Picture Books of the Year and KidLit TV’s Top 10 Best in Rhyme.
That tale is based on a childhood encounter with a scary/sweet neighbor lady and some kids trying to poach pomegranates from her tree. Denise shared the anecdote with her critique table one Halloween. When she finished, her writer friends said, "That's a book."
Denise lives with her husband, Michael, an attorney, (adult sons, Paul and Max, have flown the coup) in Pacific Palisades, CA. They enjoy movies, paddleboarding and trekking far-off places. Doyen is a lifelong ‘night owl’—her favorite time to write is late, late at night when it’s very still and very quiet, and her fellow nocturnal creatures are out and about.
Author Interviews
...about Once Upon a Twice
...about Once Upon a Twice and being published
...about writing The Pomegranate Witch
...about career path and writing advice
