I love to write stories.
Megan Hoyt is a children's picture book author represented by Deborah Warren at East West Literary Agency.
As a child, Megan Hoyt spent many long, lazy days sloshing through puddles, climbing trees, and perfecting the art of school avoidance. Then she transferred to a small parochial school with an outstanding principal who believed children should have personal access to their favorite authors—among them Elizabeth Borton de Treviño (I, Juan de Pareja), Zilpha Keatley Snyder (The Witches of Worm), and Marguerite Henry (Misty of Chincoteague). Each year, a different author was invited to visit. Meeting these brilliant writers set her imagination on fire. She still has her autographed copies of their award-winning books.
As she read (and reread) her favorite books, preferably sitting in a tree in her backyard but often in the neighborhood library on those hot Texas afternoons, Megan realized her love for books ran deep. The Secret Garden. The Fairy Doll. What treasures! Frances Hodgson Burnett and Rumer Godden gave way to C. S. Lewis and Madeleine L'Engle and Jane Austen and Charles Dickens... Megan preferred tumbling headlong into the plot of a great book to just about anything else! Other kids thought that was weird. Megan thought it was wonderful.
Megan's mother was a violinist. Her father played viola and was symphony librarian for the Dallas Symphony. It was not uncommon for her parents to host large dinner parties filled with laughter and music. Cellists, trombone players, violinists, and conductors gathered to eat piles of lasagna and fill the house with boisterous conversations about Mahler or Puccini. She spent many afternoons wandering backstage at the Music Hall or listening, riveted, to the resounding voices of opera singers as they shook the rafters with the strength of a thousand men. Another deep fascination -- music! Megan was in love AGAIN.
Megan's mother was a violinist. Her father played viola and was symphony librarian for the Dallas Symphony. It was not uncommon for her parents to host large dinner parties filled with laughter and music. Cellists, trombone players, violinists, and conductors gathered to eat piles of lasagna and fill the house with boisterous conversations about Mahler or Puccini. She spent many afternoons wandering backstage at the Music Hall or listening, riveted, to the resounding voices of opera singers as they shook the rafters with the strength of a thousand men. Another deep fascination -- music! Megan was in love AGAIN.
Combining her love for both books AND music, Megan created her first picture book, Hildegard's Gift. Hildegard was a Medieval composer, but most women didn't write music during the Middle Ages. In fact, Medieval women didn't write at all. Most of them couldn't even read, and they rarely went to school. But not Hildegard. She learned to read and write in Latin, and she wrote music, drew pictures, came up with herbal remedies, and taught popes and princes. She was the world's first feminist. Hildegard was a rare phenomenon. A precious gift to the world.
Hildegard’s Gift, was released in 2014 (Paraclete Press). Now a new generation is meeting Hildegard for the first time. How exciting! Hildegard believed her music was divinely inspired by God. Wherever your heart says your gift came from, never forget -- it is yours to treasure forever. Your heart is a secret garden, filled with hidden flowers waiting to bloom.
A certified teacher, Megan has taught at private schools, homeschool co-ops, and even tutored child actors on the set of Showtime’s Emmy award-winning Homeland tv series. She frequently speaks on educational topics at conferences for teachers in the US and Canada. She has a BA in English and History (double major) from Southern Methodist University, and an MA in Theology from Regent University in Virginia.
Megan lives in Charlotte, NC, where most days she is surrounded by three furry pups, piles of books, and a gaggle of grandchildren. Although she still sloshes through puddles and climbs trees, she also enjoys playing classical guitar and going on Waldensian nature walks with her husband.
Megan lives in Charlotte, NC, where most days she is surrounded by three furry pups, piles of books, and a gaggle of grandchildren. Although she still sloshes through puddles and climbs trees, she also enjoys playing classical guitar and going on Waldensian nature walks with her husband.
Thanks for visiting my website! Check out the goodies on each page, and if you are interested in hosting me for a school or library visit, I have developed an engaging, hands-on program for students. We will listen to Hildegard's original music, smell/taste/touch the herbs she used in her medicines, grind spelt into flour, take a look at some of her art, and read from her volumes. I have a few other surprises in store to enliven the visit. Shoot me an email HERE, and we can discuss your specific needs. You can contact Brother Richard at Paraclete Press to order books to sell to your students. You may also contact him by phone directly at 1-800-451-5006 x 320. My local daily fee is $250. If your needs exceed your means, a discounted fee may be available through some pretty amazing people who love children as much as you and I do.
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