Hello! I’m Precious McKenzie, Rourke’s Senior Editor. Here at Rourke I edit both the fiction and nonfiction titles. I enjoy working on the books as well as on the “business” side of things. Before coming to Rourke I taught English at the University of South Florida and New College of Florida.

I’m a mom, a writer, an aspiring cowgirl, and a bookworm. Books are magical. They are my passion. My bookshelves are buckling with great literature, from Beatrix Potter to Bill Martin, Jr.  Books have the power to inspire and entertain. That’s my mission at Rourke. To bring great stories to our readers, young and old!

Keep on reading!

Precious

Hello! My name is Lauren Cassidy and I am one of the Curriculum Consultants at Rourke Educational Media. I work with my team to develop, edit, and implement many of the programs we have at Rourke. Prior to Rourke, I was a classroom teacher and Director of an Early Childhood Department. As a classroom teacher, I believed in the importance of beginning our day with an engaging book (usually something silly and interactive to get our minds and bodies moving). I loved to read to my students and they inspired me to read more at home too! There is so much to reading …it’s magical, really. It’s not just about being able to read the words. It’s about being a part of the story, feeling, seeing, and understanding what is happening. My favorite past time on a rainy day (besides cleaning and organizing) is getting lost in a good book. My hobbies include baking, cake decorating, and surfing when the waves are small!  My favorite author is Laura Numeroff and I love the book, If You Give a Cat a Cupcake.

Here at Rourke Educational Media, we seek authors with a special talent and passion for learning. Our authors share a love for reading and writing which shows in our highly engaging books. Check out our new website: www.rourkeeducationalmedia.com

Happy Reading!

Lauren Cassidy

Curriculum Consultant

Editor-in-Chief

It’s official! I, we (Rourke Publishing) have a blog! And the best part is, I’m excited about it. We have a wonderful community of teachers, librarians, parents, and authors that know and love Rourke books and we want you to meet these wonderful people.

So to get things started, I’ll share a little about myself. I’m Luana Mitten and I’m  the editor-in-chief at Rourke Publishing. I’m also a former teacher and reading specialist. Most importantly, I’m a mom, a baker, and big believer in the power of getting good books (in all different formats) in the hands of kids.

A favorite quote from Joy Cowley, an author I strive to emulate, is, “There’s no mystery, no magic, and no great talent. The secret of writing an effective early reading book is to write for the child’s learning needs rather than for any adult considerations.”

Enjoy!

Luana