There are few things better than sitting on your grandmother’s lap and having her read a story to you. The love that is shown in the sharing of a book special to you can make the world drift away. For Dayne Griffin’s granddaughter, Lilly, her fun antics as a little girl have now become a book, written and published by her grandmother, Dayne, to be read to other grandchildren.
An Interesting Journey to Being an Author
Dayne Griffin, native of Greensboro, NC, worked for many years as an RN in High Point, NC, and then Cheraw and Greenville, South Carolina, changing locations as her husband’s engineering job relocated him. Dayne and her husband, Ev, added to their family with daughter, Gwen. A move to Beech Mountain for nine years brought Dayne to the decision to continue her education and become a Family Nurse Practitioner. Her children grew up and went out on their own.
“My husband and I moved to Oak Valley subdivision, which was near our daughter’s family. I thoroughly enjoyed our three grandchildren, two girls and a boy, who are grown now, with one great-grandson. When I retired as an NP, I substituted in Davie County elementary schools, mainly Pre-K, first and second grades, for about seven years. It was during this time I read many books to children. I thought I had a fun story to tell which children would enjoy about my granddaughter. I took an online course in writing children’s books and composed my book, Silly Lilly, telling with a bit of embellishment the fun things my granddaughter, Lilly, did when she was young,” related Dayne.
Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way!
After finishing her book, Silly Lilly, Dayne submitted her manuscript to several publishers, but never heard back from them. Dayne took her book to Staples and had a few copies printed and tucked them away in a folder.
“Years later, after writing the book, my husband and I relocated to Arbor Acres, a retirement community in Winston-Salem, NC. Our water exercise class was invited by our instructor to attend the Fall Festival at Bookmarks. I shared with him that I had written a children’s book years ago and I would really like someone to read it to see if it had merit. He suggested that I contact Linda Felker, who has written books herself and is an editor for other writers. Linda read it and to my surprise and delight, she loved it,” Dayne recalled.
Linda Felker edited Dayne’s book and enlisted a talented college student, Anna McCulough, to illustrate it. The book is now printed and available on Amazon.
Silly Lilly was written with the love of a grandmother, and I hope it will find its way into the hands of other grandparents and their grandchildren, bringing as much joy to them as it brought to me in writing it,” Dayne stated.
Dayne is excited to read her book to children in our community. Please contact her at 336-909-5450 or daynegriffin39@gmail.com.
