Virginia Monaghan gets first children’s book published
?Monessen author Virginia Monaghan published her first children’s book after teaching high school for 36 years.
“Manneranimals” is written through the eyes of five different animals to teach children how to have good manners. Each animal has an alliterative name such as “Ellie the Emu,” and teaches a different social etiquette such as sharing or saying please and thank you.
“I thought children could relate to animals,” said Monaghan.
Monaghan, a native of Donora, has lived in Monessen for about 40 years. She taught English and public speaking at Monessen High School until she retired in 2004.
“It was quite a diversion for me to write a children’s book after teaching high school for so many years,” she said.
Monaghan got the idea after observing children who were misbehaving, and were acting, as she described, rude and inconsiderate. She worked on the book while she was still teaching, but it took seven years until she found a publisher.
“I received rejection after rejection, but I persevered,” said Monaghan. “I thought the book had merit, so I kept searching,” she said.
Finally, Monaghan’s only child Melanie told her about a small company in Wisconsin called Mirror Publishing. They accepted her book.
Monaghan’s oldest granddaughter Quinn, who is 6 years old, helped her “dress” the animals by giving her ideas on what they should wear.
“Quinn picked out the beads for ‘Dixie the Duck’,” Monaghan said. “I knew she would be proud to see her ideas in the book and she was thrilled.”
Her husband, Ed, was a consultant and adviser for the book. He was an elementary school teacher and guidance counselor for 35 years in the Albert Gallatin Area School District. He also coached basketball for many years.
“Because of his experience, I looked to him for advice and ran my ideas by him for feedback,” said Monaghan.
Monaghan has been reading her book at various elementary schools, preschools and libraries. She has future book signings scheduled.
The book is available online at Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com and local Barnes & Noble book stores.