Annie Donwerth-Chikamatsu

Annie Donwerth-Chikamatsu is an American wife of a Japanese national and mother of two bi-national, bi-cultural, bilingual adults. She has lived in a multi-generational home (with her children's grandparents living downstairs) in Japan for more than two decades. Her debut middle grade novel, SOMEWHERE AMONG, is set in Japan 2001. At that time her children were in Japanese public elementary and nursery school. Historical events and tragedies that Japan and the United States have shared as well as details from her family life are woven through the story. References and resources can be found on her author's website. Her blog, Here and There Japan written especially for children, highlights photos and cultural details.

BEYOND ME draws from years of following and photographing a neighborhood farmer and her experience of the 2011 earthquakes and aftershocks. She still lives in Tokyo, Japan. She inherited the garden work from Great-grandfather and Grandfather and spends a lot of time gardening. It keeps her grounded.

SOMEWHERE AMONG is Donwerth-Chikamatsu's debut novel. Before publication, the manuscript won the 2013 Writers' League of Texas award in the middle grade category and has received these accolades as well:

Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year

Crystal Kite Award 2017

Freeman Book Award 2017

Writers' League of Texas Book Award 2016

Writers League of Texas Manuscript Award 2013