Gina Terwilleger Mercado

I have a life-long love of reading and sharing, and I believe I have been a writer since I wrote a poem in 4th grade saying good-bye to a beloved school principal who read it at an assembly. 

Just like that, the poet I had always been at heart came alive. 

However, being a writer was not an occupation encouraged in my youth, nor as a struggling mom. Somehow, though, I end up at this time with many partly finished stories and series as well as poems. 

I have managed to self-publish a volume of poetry speaking to love and loss at the urging of an author friend. And, I put out a first episode in a character-driven mini-series about a lady trucker while I work on the rest of it.

A big dream came true for me recently in that I wrote a children's picture book! It is a self-published effort and the best part is that my local library bought copies for people to check out! 

You can tell I am a tutor in my picture book, too, because at the last minute, I added discussion questions for the kids.

It also turns out that as a tutor, I have written quite a few stories for my students. I added some of those to my phonics practice series of workbooks. 

I think what makes my materials unique is that I put a lot of attention to detail in my work so that the students can figure out most everything on their own.

I take that to my students' writing, too. I have developed an ability to draw out what they want to say using their own voices. I have even helped fellow authors work through sticking points due to my journey as a tutor. 

Check out some of my work via the links below.