Marta’s Bio
Author, Writer, Teacher,
Nature Lover
Background
Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, I immigrated to the U.S. at the age of seven. I fell in love with the English language by reading children’s novels and made a career out it (B.A. in English, M.A. in Theoretical Linguistics). I often collaborate with my brother, Mauro Magellan, a musician and artist, also born in Rio.
Teaching Career
Career A former full professor at Miami Dade College, I taught Creative Writing, English Composition, Survey of Children’s Literature, and Issues in Literature and Culture. I advised the college’s award-winning literary magazine and received three Endowed Teaching Chairs in the Humanities while at the college, among various other state and national awards.
Writing Life
Author I have published several picture books for young children, some for the educational market, and magazine and newspaper articles for adults. I now lead a Miami, Florida SCBWI critique group and am a nonfiction judge for Rate Your Stories. Besides SCBWI, I am a member of many other children’s writing groups, such as STEAMTeamBooks, 12X12 Challenge, NFFest, and more.
Collaborators
Family My brother, Mauro Magellan, is the illustrator of several of my books as well as many of his own. Husband James Gersing takes photographs of all the animals we see, many for my books. My great loves are my two remarkable children, two precious grandchildren, still living, one grandson living in my heart.
Sammy Joseph Schnall Scholarship Fund
In memory of my beloved grandson, who died two weeks after his first birthday, a scholarship fund has been established in his name for students working toward a BS in Early Childhood Education. If you are a Miami Dade College student, who is majoring in Early Childhood Education, and interested in the scholarship, contact the School of Education: sneimand@mdc.edu.
Please click the Donate button if you’d like to contribute to the fund or call the Miami Dade Foundation care of Ana Martinez 786-395-0033.
