Terri Clemmons is a lifelong Midwesterner who writes picture books and middle grade novels. She wants every child to see themselves in stories, especially children that wear hearing aids as she and her children do.

Her debut picture book, MARA HEARS IN STYLE, is slated for publication in spring 2024 by Beaming Books with illustrations by Lucy Rogers. Mara’s first day at a new school means she keeps having to explain her hearing aids, but one explanation leads to new friends.

She taught elementary school for twenty-five years and loved every minute with her students. The best reward is hearing from them about their life journeys. She recently retired to pursue her writing dreams, ‘daring greatly’ like she urged her students to do. 

Terri’s favorite activities include spending time with her family and friends, baking, rooting for Chicago sports teams, rockhounding on the shores of the Great Lakes, hiking in national parks, reading stacks of books from the library, and walking trails with her dog, Gracie.