Michelle M. Deyarmin is the award-winning author of the Sandy the Service Dog children’s book series which includes Book 1: Lost in a Hurricane, Book 2: Holiday Helper, Book 3: Heroic Rescue, and Book 4: Honeymoon Disaster.
A multi-faceted talent, Michelle also writes lyrics and has 6 fully finished songs. She also dabbled in poetry when she was younger and won numerous contests.Michelle lives in Ohio with her husband, Luke, son, Nolan, and their dogs Rosie and Sage.
This one-on-one interview shares Michelle’s background and experience in writing Sandy the Service Dog Series.
Tell us about Sandy the Service Dog Series.
The Sandy the Service Dog Series is a collection of easy to read, early reader chapter books that follow Sandy, a service dog for a young girl with epilepsy.
While an exciting new adventure unfolds in every book, each book is tied together with themes of self-acceptance, compassion, friendship and kindness; not only being kind to one another, but most importantly being kind to yourself!
What inspired you to write Sandy the Service Dog Series?
I was inspired to write the Sandy the Service Dog Series as a result of several interconnected experiences and life events.
For example, the first book in the series, Lost in a Hurricane, was written as a gift for my niece, Alex's 9th birthday. Ever since I met Alex, she has always held a very special place in my heart. She loves reading and animals, and I wanted to give her the most special present I could think of. My husband and I came up with the idea for the story together, drawing inspiration from real life, as at the time I wrote the book, Alex also had an emotional support dog named Benny. Our goal was to create a “Homeward Bound” meets “Lady and the Tramp” feel. Now, Alex is 15 and still loves reading and animals. She actually had a summer internship at the Zoo in Ohio!
I also wanted to focus the message of the books on anti-bullying because I was bullied horribly as a child. I wish I had books like these when I was younger so I could have seen that it is okay to be yourself.
Now, my goal is to get my books in the hands of as many children as I can to inspire them with positive, uplifting messages too.
How did your background and experience influence your writing?
I have always loved writing.
I started writing song lyrics in the sixth grade. What’s really special is that my classmates actually compared me to Taylor Swift!
In grade school, we also had a short story competition called Power of the Pen. As a part of this competition, you had one hour to write a complete story on a given prompt. Unfortunately, I didn't make the team and I was devastated, but my teacher at the time said, "Michelle, you are a great writer, you just need more time to tell your stories." That message always stuck with me.I decided to write children’s books because I have always had a passion for kids, and wanted to impact their lives positively. Since the second grade, I have wanted to be a teacher and spent some time in college pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education. Although I was unable to finish my degree, I am still actively involved with kids. I offer school visits to children all across the US, so whether it’s virtual or in person, I get to connect with many kids which is wonderful.
What is one message you would like readers to remember?
Don’t let anyone tell you that you are not good enough to do the things you love. If something brings you joy, don't let anyone take that away from you. Believe in yourself! Anything IS possible when you set your mind to it!
Most importantly, be kind to yourself and one another!
Purchasing the Books
The Sandy the Service Dog Series has received positive reviews from well-known literary organizations, authors, and reviewers around the world. Reviewer Julie Hanson writes, “A wonderful book about friendship, bullying and compassion…recommended!” In addition, a school psychologist writes, “An exceptional book with amazing characters and a detailed backdrop that takes the reader into another world... it was enjoyable to read about Sandy and her adventures. Great book for children of all ages."
The books are available for sale on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online bookstores. Readers are encouraged to purchase their copy today: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BXFK2HZG
To learn more about Michelle and follow her work, connect with her on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
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