Meet the Author

Introducing... Clare Ham Grosgebauer

Do you have a storyteller in your family? I was blessed with a storytelling grandfather who valued the power of imagination and who inspired me to dream big! His stories about “Snickerdoodle,” the tiny superhero who wasn’t afraid of bullies and bad guys and who could cut giant-size problems down to size by using imagination and humor, fueled my childhood with images of amazing  travels and adventures.

I always knew I would grow up to write “Snickerdoodle” stories and publish them as children’s books.

As a mom, I began a home-based career as a freelance writer/editor (See details below) when  I founded Small Wonders Enterprises to develop Snickerdoodle in the late 1970s.  My 6-year-old daughter was a big help when I needed to try out new ideas, and I was fortunate to be invited to share Snickerdoodle with her school classes over the years.
I certainly never could have envisioned the age of the Internet and the explosion of digital media, and never dreamed that I would have the opportunity to share Snickerdoodle’s message so widely in visiting with teachers, families, and kids all over the USA. (And receive requests for Snickerdoodle from many countries overseas as well!) 

Now I am a grandmother! And the 'Snickerdoodle' storytelling tradition continues as my daughter shares reading adventures with her 'little guys.'”
Like Snickerdoodle, I “go where adventure’s winds blow me.” And I am enjoying my travels and visits to schools, museums, libraries, children’s festivals, and book fairs.  

I live in Fairfax, Virginia (in the Washington DC metro area) with my cat, Matt. I enjoy singing in a pops chorale, and I love to read.

I love hearing from kids about their “big ideas” and especially any questions or stories they would like to write about Snickerdoodle. I also hope that teachers will enjoy using the Resources and Lesson Plans that reinforce Snickerdoodle’s message and fun---and that help their students explore creative writing and become authors.

And I hope that parents—and grandparents—will value the special experience of sharing storytelling and reading aloud from favorite books with their children and grandchildren! (Contact me at clare@snickerdoodleforkids.com)

Clare’s Background as a Freelance Writer/Editor

My undergraduate degrees are in early childhood education and sociology (Stephens College, Principia College) with a master’s level program in Publications Writing/Editing/Management (George Washington University).

My professional writing credits include feature articles and book reviews on education and women’s/family issues in Working Woman, American Education, Humanities Report, The Washington Post, and The Christian Science Monitor.

I have contributed to Time-Life Books’ series on Successful Parenting and have edited several consumer-oriented trade books for major publishers. I was a consultant for a project on educational technology developed by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Exceptional Children. I have provided editorial support services to the American Counseling Association, the Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development’s Educational Leadership magazine,  and School Library Media Activities Monthly  magazine.

From 1995, I was Staff Editor for the National Art Education Association in Reston, Virginia, responsible for editing newsletters, magazines and professional journals, and books for art teachers. Our journals and books won awards for design and editorial excellence during the past few years.(I retired from that position in Sept. 2010.)

I am a member of the Women’s National Book Association, the Independent Book Publishers Association, and the National Storytelling Network. I have been active also in organizations such as the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and the Association of Booksellers for Children. I was selected for inclusion in Who’s Who of American Women (1979-1981). 

 

About Small Wonders Enterprises