AnnaMarie

 

AnnaMarie Squailia is a certified emotional intelligence coach, author and speaker. The mother of two daughters, a former youth pastor, associate pastor and Girl Scout leader who has made reading an integral part of her work as a parent and mentor. Through her experiences with children, she saw a need to create interactive books that gave children a safe haven to share their thoughts and challenges. Her belief in the value of the classics and adult-child communication about them led her write The Hidden Swan, a retelling of the ugly duckling legend. The Hidden Swan is AnnaMarie’s first in a series of books that encourage communication skills and self-confidence in children.

Complete bio

AnnaMarie Squailia grew up in Reno, Nevada, listening to her father tell stories such as  “AnnaMarie and the Three Bears.” Those creative bedtime tales developed her love of storytelling. Wanting to emulate her dad, she would spin fantastic stories around her friends whenever they were together.

AnnaMarie traveled to Australia and Canada and attended Bible college in British Columbia. She later worked as a youth pastor and associate pastor. AnnaMarie became a single parent after her divorce, raising her daughters, working two jobs and homeschooling her two girls. She also was a Girl Scout leader and an assistant coach for the girls’ cheerleading team. AnnaMarie has continued her education with advanced classes in emotional intelligence and has become a Certified Emotional Intelligence coach.

AnnaMarie believes that the good you do for others in life begins with your own children. She has dedicated her life to finding inventive ways to instill values in her children’s lives. She made a practice of using the books her daughters were reading to ask questions. She encouraged them think about the books and apply them to their lives. She also continued the practice  whenever they watched movies.

“My greatest reward has been the open communication I’ve enjoyed with two great daughters,” said AnnaMarie. “They also were the inspiration for my book, The Hidden Swan, a story that applies to all young people as they discover who they are and how they belong – and assists parents with engaging questions to encourage children’s independent thinking.”

AnnaMarie Squailia resides in Reno and frequently speaks to children’s groups and to parents about friendship, living your dreams and fostering emotional intelligence