Mission Statement
We believe in providing useful and instructional Virginia SOL books and materials in a teacher, parent, and student-friendly format. We also believe in staying open and accessible to the suggestions and needs of educators.

Barbara Spilman Lawson
Barbara Spilman Lawson grew up in Waynesboro, VA and received an Early Childhood Education degree from Madison College (now JMU). She taught for 22 years in Kindergarten through 4th grade. She is now a professional storyteller and writer of educational materials and children's books.

During her teaching years, Barb presented workshops at state-wide Early Childhood conferences, worked with Gifted and Talented students across the state in drama, and wrote, directed, and produced for children's theater. Barb was also the Augusta County, VA Teacher in Space applicant in 1985.

Barb is the founder of Fun Stuff Publications, a company that produces books and materials to help teachers, parents, and students with Virginia Standards of Learning. She has written and illustrated more than 40 books for Fun Stuff. She also writes for major publishing companies including The Education Center, Harcourt Brace, Inc., Steck-Vaughn, Scott Foresman, McGraw-Hill and Scholastic.

Most of the year, she can be found up and down the east coast presenting "Stories with a Twist," hilarious, interactive storytelling programs, workshops and in-services at elementary schools, public libraries, festivals as well as state and national conferences.

At the Virginia Festival of the Book in Charlottesville, Barb has been a featured storyteller for the past 4 years. She has performed leading and supporting roles in over 45 musical theater productions with the Waynesboro Players, Oak Grove Theatre and ShenanArts. Barb also acted in the Parents' Choice Award-winning PBS television special, RHYMES AND REASONS.

"Songs with a TWIST" is Barb's first music CD for kids. She worked with world-renowned musician, Richard Adams, to produce a wild and wacky, fun-filled treat for the whole family. There will also be an accompanying songbook to go along with the CD coming soon!

JAMBO, WATOTO! (Hello, Children!) is Barb's first picture book. It was written with her sister, Elizabeth Massie (art by Marsha Heatwole), and came out in the fall of 1998 (Creative Arts Press).

Barb is married to Charlie, a VW enthusiast and owner of C J Buggs Import Repair Service. They have a beautiful 13 year-old daughter, Jenni.

For more information about Fun Stuff Publications or Barbara's services, please email her at barb@funstuffpublications.com.

Elizabeth Massie
Elizabeth Massie, a life-long Augusta County resident and 1975 graduate of Madison College (JMU), is a former teacher with over 20 years experience in Virginia schools and an award-winning author. She taught students in grades 4 through 7 with an emphasis on science, language arts, and social studies. Since becoming a full-time writer in 1995, she has presented numerous writing workshops to elementary, middle, high schools, and colleges around the state. She has also presented workshops and programs at state conferences of the Virginia Association of Teachers of English, the Virginia Educational Media Association, The Virginia State Reading Association, as well as public libraries and civic organizations.

Elizabeth’s works include adult suspense/horror novels, young adult and middle grade historical novels, and juvenile nonfiction and fiction. She has also written numerous readers (fiction and nonfiction), American history textbook chapters and units, and testing passages for grades K-10 for major educational houses. Her publishers include HarperCollins, Tor, Pocket, Morrow, Random House, Dorchester, CTB/McGraw Hill, Steck-Vaughn, Scott Foresman, Rigby, The Princeton Review, and many others. "Rhymes and Reasons," a teleplay she wrote for PBS, won a Parents' Choice Award. She has often collaborated on work for younger readers with her sister, Barbara Spilman Lawson, and has written the economics SOL books and Virginia Studies books for Fun Stuff Publications.

Elizabeth is available to conduct SOL teacher workshops and creative writing workshops. For more information about Fun Stuff Publications or Elizabeth's presentations, please email her at beth@funstuffpublications.com.

Patricia Spilman
Patricia B. Spilman earned her MA in education from Madison College (now James Madison University) in Harrisonburg, VA. She taught art in high school for 18 years and was an artist-in-residence in the elementary grades for 12 years.

A professional watercolorist, she is an Artist Member of the Virginia Watercolor Society, an active member of the Shenandoah Valley Art Center of Waynesboro, a contributing member of the National Association of Women Artists, and in the Marquis Who's Who of American Women.

After having done numerous painting workshops, Patricia has now undertaken a new approach to teaching. She has collaborated with two daughters, Barbara and Elizabeth, both former educators and now writers, to write and illustrate books that will serve as instructional aids for the Virginia Standards of Learning.

Patricia can be reached at patsy@funstuffpublications.com.

Deena Warner
Deena Warner creates print materials and websites for non-profit organizations, businesses, musicians and artists. Over the past several years, she has established a virtual home for The National Jazz Museum in Harlem, providing an archive for their extensive galleries. She also works with The Anne Frank Center USA and The Perseus Books Group promoting upcoming events and book releases.

An active participant in the publishing community, Deena has displayed her artwork at conventions in New York City, San Francisco and Phoenix. She has illustrated books for Earthling Publications, Cemetery Dance Publications, Mindscape Pictures, HW Publications, and Diegesis magazine.

Deena graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Illustration. She currently lives in Staunton, Virginia, with her husband, author Matthew Warner.

Deena can be reached at www.deenawarner.net.