About

I am Dawn Noelle Archer

I was born in the late 1960’s in Minneapolis, Minnesota. By the time I was 4 years old it was just my mom, younger brother, and me. Being a single parent, my mom always worked 2 or 3 jobs to support us, meaning I was a latch key kid – wearing my house key on a leather cord around my neck for several years. By the time I was in 5^th grade I had attended 4 elementary schools. What I discovered though is books can be a constant in a world of change. Even when you must leave a home, a school, and friends behind, your books can come along. Books allow us to escape and to come home all at the same time!

As a young student my favorite class was Reading. Though I no longer remember the specific stories, my favorite class text was titled Seven is Magic! And it was magic – all those words, all those stories pouring out as we sat in a circle reading aloud! The best part of my school day was just before lunch when the teacher read a chapter from E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web or Beverly Cleary’s The Mouse and the Motorcycle. And one of my most treasured childhood gifts was a boxed set of Little House on the Prairie books.

I was in high school when I discovered I had the power to put words to paper in a meaningful way. My best friend introduced me to journaling and collecting favorite quotes. Up to that point, school was something I had to get through. Katie taught me that education was a worthy endeavor with many different paths to choose. She gravitated toward English classes, theater, and speech club. I found my niche as student editor of the school’s Literary Arts Magazine. I know now that I wrote incredibly bad poetry, the kind that comes from lack of life experience, and lack of honed skills. But my supporters told me they loved my writing; the words were beautiful; I had a gift to share. So, the journey continued.

I am a writer, poet, wife, mother, volunteer, and wandering soul. I married a blue-eyed boy from Montana. We had 3 beautiful children – grieved the loss of Benjamin and raised Emily & Matthew to adulthood. Together we have lived in 5 states. I’ve worked as a Stay-at-Home Mom, In-Home Daycare Provider, Pre-School Teacher, Live-Out Nanny, Parent Consultant for Windmill Project, and Associate Pastor for Bismarck United Church of Christ.

I began as a poet, but am equally drawn to children’s books, women’s fiction, and memoirs. These genres are not so different. When done well, there is a rhythm to the language in each that draws us in as readers. I’m a member of The Painted Ladies writers group, named for the butterfly Vanessa Cardui, in memory of our founding member Janis Cheney, as well as the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

My published works include:

The following are available on sharedstorypress.com and amazon.com

Shopping locally in North Dakota? Look for my books at Bismarck Barnes & Noble, Bisman Community Food Co-op, and Bismarck Mandan Convention & Visitors Bureau!

Even Whispered Words Echo: Lullabies for Dying Children & Other Poems ©2004 Book & CD
Funded in part by a Career Development Grant from the Lake Region Arts Council and the McKnight Foundation. This work is currently not in print.

I am Dawn Noelle Archer

My published works include:

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