I live in a small beach town on the eastern shore of Maryland. I've just published my third book, My Incredibly Awkward Adventures From Locker 73. It is the continuation of my second book, My Surprisingly Not-So-Simple Summer, and my first book, My Crazy Cringeworthy Countdown to Summer in The Rebecca Chronicles series. It is intended for girls ages 10-14 and was written as a result of a journal I started when I, myself, was twelve. Since then, I've been encouraged by many to pursue my dream as a writer.
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ABOUT DANA NEWCOMB
MY FAMILY IS MY INSPIRATION
I am lucky to have the abundance of family. My husband Jason and I have been married for twenty years. We have two children, Kaeli (19) and Brodee (13). My husband's family lives close by and my family is no further than a few hours away.
My Mom is my first editor and partner in crime. She's an instrumental part in my writing, and is always available to listen to a new story idea or correct my punctuation.
My daughter, Kaeli, was the driving force that pushed the tween book series into existence, unbeknownst to her. I wanted a series for her age group at the time, ages 10-14. I loved listening to her day-to-day events when she would get home from school. Those, combined with my own experiences, brought The Rebecca Chronicles to life.
WRITING IS WHAT I LOVE
For me, writing is like exercise. When I'm doing it every day I feel alive, no one can stop me. However, if I stop, even for a day or two, doubt creeps in and fear eagerly follows, saying things like, "Who do you think you are? You can't do this!"
The truth is, I'm not anyone special. I'm just a writer who still remembers the feelings of being a preteen girl.
The ultimate goal is for girls to have a relatable series so they never feel awkward, misunderstood, or unworthy.
Finding
PEACE
I admit, some days I feel like my brain is on a merry-go-round. It won't stop or even slow down. I have to literally say out loud, "Dana, breathe," which in turn inevitably gets an eye roll from my kids, but it works! Breathing in deeply, even a couple times, immediately slows me down, and helps me to stop and plan my week, day, or even my hour. When I am overwhelmed, I grab our beagle, Diggy, and we go for a long walk. I pray, think, and organize my thoughts. I come home more relaxed, with my head in a better place.
Thank you
I can't begin to express my gratitude for your interest in my books. I am extremely passionate about young teens and how they value themselves. It's imperative the girls in our lives never feel alone or unworthy. If we can normalize the rites of passage all girls go through, we may be able to eliminate some of the anxiety and depression that may arise during this time. As a young girl, I didn't know other kids felt the same way I did. I believe if I had, it would have been instrumental in helping me navigate through awkward years of feeling misunderstood. My hope and my dream is this series will, in some way, let pre-teens know they are not alone.
