Jill Ammon Vanderwood is the 2008 Writer of the Year for the League of Utah Writers. She is the author of ten books for children and young adults and one adult book. She grew up in Oregon, the third of eleven children. Jill and her husband Bill are parents of four and grandparents of nine, with three great-grandsons. They have recently moved to Southern Idaho.
loves going on adventures with her grandchildren, she loves to travel and tries to write something every day.
Jill's books have won numerous publication awards:
In 2015 the author introduced her nonfiction book, Erase the Problem of Bullying. This is a teen book which addresses bullying from the perspective of the bully and those who are being bullied. This book includes stories from 42 teens and adults, from their own experiences. Each contributor includes advice for those who are being bullied.
In 2017 the author republished and updated her middle-grade Through the Rug collection. Through the Rug and Through the Rug 2 came out in the Tenth Anniversary Editions
Also in 2017 the author released the first edition of Through the Rug 3: Charm Forest. This is the book everyone was waiting for!
Early in 2019 the author introduces a new book series for fifth graders and up. The Path You Choose, with the first book: Off Target. This is a fiction book which explores a dangerous situation, when kids get hold of a parents’ gun. The reader is the main character, making choices and experiencing the consequences of each choice throughout the story.
Also in 2019 or early 2020 look for the second book in The Path You Choose series—On the Rocks, a fiction book which explores the dangers of underage drinking, with the reader as the main character.
What else is the author working on? For those who have read Drugs Make You Un-Smarter, which begins with the story of Savanna Peterson, who was exposed to drugs at an early age with her father going to prison for crimes he committed due to drug addiction. This book will be a memoir of Savanna Peterson’s father, Kacy Peterson. Kacy has lived a life of drug abuse and crime, which has landed him in prison, numerous times. Because of Kacy’s life choices, two children grew up without their father. Now we will hear first-hand how drugs have affected the Peterson family. Kacy Peterson reached out to Jill to help write his memoir. Their correspondence began with post cards, hand written in pencil. Both Kacy and Jill writing very small, trying to fit as many words on a card as possible.
Kacy, knowing it’s too late to become a model father and a contributing member of society, decided the only way he can give back is to tell his story and hopefully help others understand the Hell that drug addiction brought to his life and the lives of those around him.
Jill is an experienced writer, and speaker. She has taught workshops for writers, as well as being a keynote speaker for the League of Utah Writers. She speaks at school assemblies, teaches writing assignments in school classrooms, has spoken at a drug rehab, Boys and Girls clubs, church groups, summer camps and scout troops. Jill has interviewed for radio, newspaper and TV—on the topics of drug abuse, bullying and overcoming the fear of public speaking.
>> Media Page <<You are new in town and it's your first day at a new school. Your neighbor, Trevor introduces you to a new group of three boys and two girls. Right away you notice that Eric, one of the guys in the group, is being bullied at school. When you go to Eric’s house with your new group of friends, he shows the group a fully loaded handgun that is left in his mother's nightstand. You are faced with some hard choices when someone suggests that Eric should take the gun to school.
If you're worried that Eric will take the gun to school--continue on page 7
If you decide to take the gun to prevent anyone from being hurt--continue on page 9
If you leave the house with the others and plan to come back for target practice the next day--continue on page 10
Off Target is the first book in The Path You Choose series. You, the reader, determine the outcome by the choices you make. Once you read one story, go back and choose a different story. There are thirteen possible endings in this book. What Path Will You Choose?
>>Buy on Amazon <<Charm Forest, the third book in the Through the Rug series, is the one fans have been waiting for! Grandma Emma, Domino, and Alyssa return home from Wishville and everything slowly goes back to normal. That is, until Grandma Emma accidentally summons a tornado during a neighborhood event.
>> Click to Enter Website << >> Buy on Amazon <<The dogcatcher returns for Grandma Emma's dog Domino, or is it the rug he's after? Grandma and Alyssa follow Domino through the rug, back to Wishville, where all wishes are granted. Domino outsmarts the dogcatcher, and makes sure things don't turn out well for a bank robber with a bag full of money. Alyssa falls into the nest of a strange bird and Grandma's most embarrassing moment is broadcast on national television. Rub your return token and come to Wishville, for more fun adventures and magical mishaps. Follow That Dog is a winning recipe for fun.
>> Click to Enter Website << >> Buy on Amazon <<Come along with ten-year-old Alyssa, a colorful dog named Domino an absent minded grandmother and a persistent dogcatcher as they fall through the rug. Your adventure will take you to Wishville where all wishes are granted. Swim with the fishes, meet up with pirates, and spend the night at the zoo. Discover the magic of more hours in the day, and enjoy every adventure you fall into. You will leave Wishville knowing you can return at any time.
>> Click to Enter Website << >> Buy on Amazon <<With list in hand, Santa boarded his sleigh on Christmas Eve. Things were going well until a huge gush of wind blew the list right out of Santa’s hand.
Santa still had gifts to deliver, but without his list, he had no idea which gift to deliver to which child.
He brought ice skates to Julie, who always wanted to be an artist.
Noah, whose only interest was baseball, received a guitar and microphone.
Santa was worried that he may not have gotten the gifts delivered to the right children, but he didn’t need to worry. Children will discover, along with Santa the magic that took place, the year Santa lost his list!
>>Buy on Amazon<<Bullying, discrimination, teasing, and abuse are harmful. Some violate your civil rights, as well. And all of them are wrong.
Bullies nearly kept NBA All Star James Donaldson from a successful basketball career. Abby was bullied by her friends' parents because of her mom's occupation. Federal prisoner Cedric Dean learned at a young age to bully others to get what he wanted, but now works to educate troubled youth. Their stories, along with many others, offer insight into bullying from the perspective of both the victim and the bully.
Experts, from authors to retired court judges, share information and resources to help both kids and parents learn their rights and ways to protect from bullying.
Others have survived bullying and built successful lives.
You can, too.
>> Buy on Amazon <<Santa is trying out a special boot this year to make snow in places like New Zealand where it's summer in December.
There are buttons along the side of the boot that not only make snow. One button plays Christmas music, one spays a mist to help children have gingerbread dreams, and the other button makes the boot turbo charged to help Santa get up the chimney.
>>Buy on Amazon <<Do you suffer from the fear of public speaking? You are not alone. In the book, Shaking Behind the Microphone: Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking, Jill Vanderwood shares her story of being terrified to speak in public. She now speaks to groups and teaches workshops without fear.
You will read about others who struggle with this common fear and those who had a choice to either learn public speaking or risk losing their job. Learn tips from experts; read about kids who learned public speaking at an early age, and stories from performers who tell others how to perform without fear. You will also acquire untraditional solutions for overcoming fear and anxiety.
Taking steps toward overcoming the fear of public speaking will put you on the road to living a better life.
>> Click to Enter Website << >> Buy on Amazon <<Fifteen-year-old Savanna Peterson went beyond the expectations of others and took a stand against drugs; even though her older brother has parties while her mom is at work, the cops are watching her house, and her dad spent most of her life in prison, for drugs.
You will read about other kids who took the hard road to drug abuse and found their way back. Learn about drugs and the myths and lies behind them, and hear about goal oriented kids who, like Savanna have made a choice to remain drug free.
>> Click to Enter Website << >> Buy on Amazon <<In What's It Like Living Green? You'll learn how other kids live green, along with tips on recycling, reusing and environmental awareness. Learn clean energy ideas as simple as putting on a sweater rather than turning up the heat. You'll see how kids like you can save the earth. Meet a teenage girl who learned to drive with a car fueled by used cooking grease. Read about a boy who raised funds to build his first well to provide clean water for a whole village, when he was only seven years old. You will learn simple ways to help the environment, help others, and even earn some money.
>> Click to Enter Website << >> Leap for Literacy Campaign << >> Buy on Amazon <<Each book in this picture book series has a different author and a different illustrator.
Sara, the Pineapple Cat has a mind of her own behind that cute little face. When David, Susan, one-year-old twins, Adam and Amanda, and Susan's mother decide to take a short vacation to San Francisco, Sara is supposed to stay at home. Sara, the Pineapple Cat needs a vacation, too, and has plans of her own! This is the fourth in a series of "Sara, the Pineapple Cat" children's books.
>> Click to Enter Website << >> Buy on Amazon <<Author Jill Vanderwood is included in the documentary video, Achieve Your Ultimate Success. From director and executive producer, Justin Sachs, comes and inspiring movie giving viewers the specific tools, strategies, and principles they need to become successful in any area of life. When faced with the most confronting challenges, these are the systems people need to achieve their ultimate success. Join the movement for success and learn everything you need for creating the results you want in your business and throughout your life.
>> Click to Enter Website << >> Buy on Amazon <<