She is eleven years old, in sixth grade, and has already published eight children's books. Anna Shammas was one of the star attractions at Tuesday's Literature Festival in Davenport.
She wrote her first book, Very Snowy, when she was five years old. It was about a little girl named Anna who loves Christmas, snow, ice skating, and other things associated with winter.
Her father is a doctor and an author, and Anna says she gets much of her inspiration to write from him.
Anna writes both fiction and non-fiction, says she loves to use her imagination, and also makes suggestions about what illustrations she would like to be included in the stories which she writes.
Gail Shammas, Anna's mother, says her daughter writes every day. The family has piles of stories which she has written. Anna often includes herself in the stories.
An eleven year old, writing a storyline of her own. She is a terrific example of a child who has a passion for writing and reading. She encourages kids her own age to go for their dreams, and understand that if she can do it, they can do it too.
Anna attends Riverdale Heights Elementary in Bettendorf. In 2008, she became the youngest author to join the Midwest Writing Center.
