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I survived a near-death experience when I was born. Before I was born. Delivered three months prematurely, I weighed two pounds, six ounces. For months, I was attached to needles and monitors. Feeding tubes and a respirator kept me alive.

I am now a 22-year-old author of two collections of short stories, a forthcoming novel, and more than 70 articles in publications including Family Circle, Writer's Digest, The Writer, the Los Angeles Times, and seven Chicken Soup for the Soul books.

I published my first book, There's a Huge Pimple on My Nose, when I was in fifth grade. It received a glowing review in the Los Angeles Times: "If you simply want to enjoy some remarkable writing, it would be hard to find a book more satisfying than Dallas Woodburn's." It was also featured in CosmoGIRL! and Girls' Life magazines. My second book, 3 a.m., has also received high praise:

"Woodburn is a very gifted writer whose work celebrates the beauty and humor of everyday life ... She is able to merge different cultures and generations in a thought-provoking and lovely way. I look forward to seeing more work from this talented young writer." - Laurie Stolarz, award-winning author of the Blue is for Nightmares series

"Woodburn's writing shines with both humor and poignancy. ... With characters that are human and tangible and extremely likeable - and details that make them come alive in a vivid and precise and utterly appropriate way - I couldn't get enough of 3 a.m." - Randy Powell, acclaimed author of My Underrated Year

"The writing in this book is so wonderful you'll want to say up reading until 3 a.m.!" - Julia McGuire, The Hudson Valley Literary Magazine

Not only is 3 a.m. a great read, it is also helping battle illiteracy. In 2000 I created Write On! For Literacy, a nonprofit foundation to encourage kids to discover joy, confidence, and a means of self-expression and connection with others through reading and writing. I hold writing contests, teach writing camps, and created a website www.writeonbooks.org that features book reviews, author interviews, and a forum for young writers to share their work. In the past eight years, my Holiday Book Drive has collected and distributed 10,140 new books to underprivileged children for Christmas. A portion of the profits from my books are donated to Write On's Scholarship Fund, which I established three years ago to send a deserving young writer to the prestigious week-long Santa Barbara Writers Conference each summer.

I can never pay back the doctors and nurses who saved my life. What I can do, however, is "pay forward" in their honor. I try to do so every day. Who can you pay forward to in your life?

I graduated this past May with a B.A. in Creative Writing and Entrepreneurship from the University of Southern California. My latest project is starting a publishing company, Write On! Books, that publishes anthologies of stories, poems and essays by young writers for young readers. I am also working on revising my first novel, which is currently being represented by Foundry Literary + Media in New York.

I have experience doing many interviews for newspapers, radio, and television, including The Early Show on CBS and the PBS book talk show Between the Lines. I also frequently talk to schools and community groups about my writing and Write On! I would love to talk to your group.

Here is a list of my speaking experience:

* Panel Moderator at Santa Barbara Writers Conference
* Keynote Speaker at Ventura County Reading Association Literacy Awards Brunch
* Santa Barbara Book Festival
* Duarte (Calif.) Book Festival
* Ventura Festival of Books
* Cal Lutheran Author's Faire
* Keynote speaker, Ventura County Writers Club
* Jack London Writing Camp
* Santa Paula Rotary Club
* Ventura Kiwanis Club

Here are some testimonials from teachers:

"Dear Dallas, Thank you so much for your talents and inspirational words. You really motivated my students this year to keep writing. I see them reading your books and they feel now they can do it, too." -- Ms. Koo, 93rd Street School


"Thank you for presenting a great writing lesson and experience for our students. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed your presentation and talk about your beginning writing experience." -- Mrs. Thompson, 3rd grade teacher, Poinsettia Elementary School



"Dallas: As always, you were fun and inspiring. Thanks for sharing." -- Anne Morningstar

Contact me today!

Dallaswoodburn@aol.com

805-889-5570

www.writeonbooks.org