Marilyn Sue Shank

Marilyn Sue Shank lives in West Virginia with her two rescued dogs. She earned her Ph.D. in special education from the University of Kansas where she majored in learning disabilities and behavior disorders and minored in counseling psychology and families with disabilities. She has taught general and special education at elementary, secondary, and college levels.

Marilyn has published in professional journals and co-authored the first four editions of EXCEPTIONAL LIVES: SPECIAL EDUCATION IN TODAY'S SCHOOLS. Her first novel, CHILD OF THE MOUNTAINS takes place in West Virginia during the 1950's. CHILD OF THE MOUNTAINS won the 2013 Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction in the young adult category. She also wrote TANNER TRUCK AND BELLA TREE, a picture e-book, to help her great-niece and -nephew cope with the loss of their grandmother and great-grandfather. The children, ages 5 and 7 at the time, helped with the story and created the illustrations. Christine Witthohn of Book Cents Literary Agency represents her.

Marilyn uses her full name, Marilyn Sue Shank, for her fiction writing to distinguish herself from another Marilyn Shank who writes romance fiction.

www.marilynsueshank.com