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MEET THE RHYMING WRITER AS A YOUNG CHILD, DUNNELLON RESIDENT SUSAN SNYDER RECEIVED A BLANK JOURNAL AS A CHRISTMAS GIFT. CONFUSED, SHE ASKED HER MOM ABOUT IT. HER MOM REPLIED THAT IT WAS UP TO HER TO WRITE THE STORY. SO SHE DID. AND SHE HASN’T STOPPED WRITING SINCE.
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usan Snyder worked in the Marion County Public School system for 20 years and often wrote rhyming poems for friends and colleagues, plus co-authored a successful phonics program. “I would take everyone’s thoughts and write them down,” she says. “People liked my rhymes and gave me the confidence to keep at it. I write and create stories from what I hear.” Susan jokes that many have an opinion about what a writer’s process looks like and what they do all day. “Sitting at the computer, throwing away page after page of less than satisfactory writing,” Susan laughs. “People ask how many hours a day I spend at my computer, and I joke that it’s typically zero. I get my ideas from life, and I jot them down as I see or hear them. Then, I start to develop the characters in my mind. What would the animal do? How would the people react?” Once, while at school, Susan witnessed a
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handful of young girls run out of the bathroom squealing about a frog being in the bathroom. That was the catalyst for the popular book There’s A Frog Trapped in the Bathroom. Her colleague (the same one she coauthored the phonics program with) submitted the book to publishers without Susan’s knowledge in the hopes that it would be printed. Eventually, the letters started coming in. Thirtyseven rejection letters later, Susan got the letter she never knew she was waiting for. A new children’s book publisher didn’t only want to publish one of Susan’s books, she wanted to publish two of them. The second book was The Very Stubborn Caterpillar. Known as Susan Snyder the Rhyming Writer, Susan specializes in fun, lighthearted children’s books, each of which features a loveable, adventurous critter of some sort. She has written seven books for young readers and is currently working on a new book, Sammy’s
Quest, about a young zoo elephant who wants to explore his world. When Susan’s boys were young, she let them pick out three books to read at bedtime. This bonding experience is something she will always cherish. She hopes other parents get that same experience from sharing her books with their little ones. It’s also one of the main reasons she loves to get out into the community, whether at local festivals or by visiting elementary schools. “I love making kids giggle with my stories,” Susan says. “I love the feedback I get from readers and their families. These books are fun and happy to read. I hope they help instill a love for reading early on, because without reading you can’t do much.” Learn more about Susan Snyder’s books, school visits and public appearances by visiting susanesnyder.com. You can also purchase autographed books directly from Susan.
Photos courtesy of Susan Snyder
WRITTEN BY KARIN FABRY-CUSHENBERY