Southeast Messenger - January 26th, 2020

PAGE 8 - SOUTHEAST MESSENGER - January 26, 2020
Former GM teacher
writes first children’s book
By Ris Twigg
Staff Writer
Sue Hougland always wanted to write a
children’s book, and it wasn’t until her 28-
year teaching career ended that she finally
achieved that dream.
It took her and her husband, John
Hougland, who worked with the publisher
on behalf of his wife, three years to publish
“Jenny’s Adventures,” a three-part book
about the couple’s rescue dog, Jenny.
“We went to Florida and John was playing
golf a lot, and I was bored,” Sue
Hougland said. “This was the perfect time
to write a book...I spend more time with my
dog than I do with anyone else, so why not
write about the dog?”
Hougland wrote the book from Jenny’s
perspective as a dog as a way to interest
more kids in the story.
The first part of “Jenny’s Adventure”
takes the reader through Jenny’s firsthand
experience as rescue dog trying to
find a new home. During the second part,
Jenny meets an alligator during one of the
couple’s trips to Florida.
“The last part of the book is about meeting
elementary students and showing them
how you can still function even though you
have a disability,” Sue Hougland said.
For 20 of her teaching years, Hougland
taught special education at Groveport
Madison Schools. Many of her experiences
working alongside children with learning
disabilities helped shape the third part of
her first children’s book, she said.
Also peppered into “Jenny’s
Adventures” are teachable points like looking
both ways before crossing the street.
The book, which is available for purchase
through the Houglands or on
Amazon, is geared for third graders and
up, but adults can read the book to younger
kids, Sue Hougland said.
“And, a lot of adults that have read it
have commented back that they’ve enjoyed
it too,” John Hougland said.
John Hougland worked with Biblio
Publishing from Columbus to organize corrections,
drafts and comments for “Jenny’s
Adventures,” which was published in
Elected officers named
around the Southeast
Groveport City Council selected
Councilwoman Jean Ann Hilbert to serve
as council president-pro tem and
Councilwoman Becky Hutson to serve as
council vice president-pro tem for the next
two years.
The Groveport Madison Board of
Education named board member Libby
Gray to serve as board president and board
member Nancy Gillespie to serve as board
vice president this year.
Sue Hougland, a former Groveport
Madison Schools special education
teacher, holds her first published children’s
book, “Jenny’s Adventures.”
September 2019. The couple said finding a
publisher was the most difficult part of the
process, but added that working with
Biblio was extremely easy.
“Most of the places were self-publishing
companies and wanted anywhere from
$2,000 to $3,000 to take the book and publish,”
John Hougland said. “Biblio on the
other hand accepted it and published it and
charges us for the books that we buy and
those that are sold on Amazon.”
Sue Hougland said that, although publishing
her first book was scary, she’s ultimately
“proud” and “overwhelmed” by the
support for the book. She’s even started
working on a sequel, “Jenny Meets Lucy.”
“The book sells for $5. This is so you can
put the book in the kids’ hands. I didn’t
make this book to make money,” Sue
Hougland said. “I wrote it to do something
enjoyable–something I hope the kids
would like.”
Cruiser eatre Company
Groveport Madison High School’s
Cruiser Theatre Company’s 2019-20 performance
season: Play-in-a-Day: “All I
Really Need to Know I Learned by Being in
a Bad Play” - Feb. 15; and “The Addams
Family” - April 2, 3, 4, 5. All shows at
Groveport Madison High School, 4475 S.
Hamilton Road.
Visit www.cruisertheatre.weebly.com
for information.
www.columbusmessenger.com
Active Lifestyles
Murray honored
A bi-monthly feature celebrating our
community’s senior citizens
• Planning Ahead Guide
• Designing Your Funeral
• Funeral & Burial Services
• “Cremation With Confidence Guarantee”
www.spencefuneralhome.com
614-837-7126
650 West Waterloo St.
Canal Winchester, OH 43110
Myrna Murray was inducted into the
Groveport Hall of Honor, located in the
Groveport Recreation Center, on Jan. 16.
A lifelong resident of Groveport, Murray
graduated from Groveport Madison High
School in 1962 and earned a bachelor’s
degree in education in 1966.
She started her teaching career with
Columbus Public Schools and eventually
joined the Groveport Madison Schools
teaching staff in 1979 and worked there
until 2005, teaching both first and third
grades. She mentored thousands of children
over her teaching career. She served
as both a Cub Scout and Girl Scout leader,
a volunteer with Groveport Adopt-A-
Family, and as a Sunday School teacher at
St. Mary’s Parish. She co-developed the
pre-school program for St. Mary’s Catholic
Church. She has been a member of the
Groveport Madison Alumni Association
since 1986 and has served as president,
assistant treasurer and banquet reservation
secretary. She was part of the superintendent
interview committee and served
on a committee to open the new high
school. She has been a member of the
Groveport Madison Alumni Hall of Fame
Committee since 1985. She volunteers
serving lunches for the Summer Lunch
Program and is a lifetime member of the
VFW Auxiliary.
Golden Cruiser Club
Groveport Madison Schools invites seniors
to attend athletic and performing arts
programs showcasing the talents of its students.
The Golden Cruiser Club is a free
program for residents of the Groveport
Madison School District who are age 60
and older. Club membership provides free
access to all school and district sponsored
athletic contests, plays, concerts, and other
events. Obtain an application at
www.gocruisers.org, at any of the school
offices, or call (614) 492-2520.
Requirements for membership are that
applicants be age 60 or older and be a resident
of Groveport Madison Schools.
614-837-7126
550 Hill Road N..
Pickerington, OH 43147