Maryna Doughty
Writer + Former Teacher + Christian
Hi, everyone! I'm Maryna (pronounced like Marina). I'm a writer currently working towards publishing middle-grade novels and picture books. Prior to writing, I earned my bachelor's degree in elementary education from Arizona State University, and I taught 4th and 5th grade for six years. Four of those years at Rancho Solano Preparatory School in Gilbert & Scottsdale, Arizona. Two of those years at Sierra School in Santa Clara, California. My favorite part of the school day was always reading aloud to my students.
I grew up in a blended family in Glendale, Arizona, and I now live in Southern California with my husband and three children.
MY PASSIONS:
-Expressing myself through writing fictional stories
-Helping moms & teachers instill a passion for reading in their kids
-Discussing relationships & seeking biblical truths about dealing with dysfunction
-Serving and loving my husband
-Being a stay-at-home mom so I can raise my children
My Writing Accomplishments
1st Place in Vivian Kirkfield's 2020 #50PreciousWords Contest
6th Place in Susanna Leonard Hill's 2019 Halloweensie Contest
Winning Entry in Lydia Lukidis and Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez's 2019 Fall Frenzy Writing Contest
Favorite Books
NON-FICTION:
Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend
Necessary Endings by Dr. Henry Cloud
The Gift of Fear: Survival Signals That Protect Us from Violence by Gavin de Becker
Protecting the Gift: Keeping Children and Teenagers Safe by Gavin de Becker
The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller
The Reading Zone: How to Help Kids Become Skilled, Passionate, Habitual, Critical Readers by Nancie Atwell and Anne Atwell Merkel
Readicide by Kelly Gallagher
THRILLER:
The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine
MIDDLE-GRADE:
This Journal Belongs to Ratchet by Nancy J. Cavanaugh
The Canyon's Edge by Dusti Bowling
For the Record by Monique Polak
Murder Is Bad Manners by Robin Stevens
Chasing Secrets by Gennifer Choldenko
The Stepmom Shake-Up by Niki Lenz
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Are You There, God? It's Me Margaret by Judy Blume
Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed
The Wide-Awake Princess series by E.D. Baker
Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney
The Bad Guys series by Aaron Blabey
CHAPTER BOOKS:
Wild Fairies series by Brandi Dougherty
Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish
PICTURE BOOKS
I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
Porcupine's Pie by Laura Renauld
Summer Color by Diana Murray
It's Not Hansel and Gretel by Josh Funk
The One-Stop Story Shop by Tracey Corderoy
A Cooked-Up Fairy Tale by Penny Parker Klostermann
I'm Sorry! By Barry Timms
An Easter Egg Hunt for Jesus by Susan Jones
BOARD BOOKS:
Bunny Breaths by Kira Willey
The Little Blue Truck series by Alice Schertle