About

DianeHower

Diane began her writing journey in 2006 after attending the Pacific NorthWest Children’s Writing Conference. As a counselor in a large diverse elementary school, she was given a task to build the social emotional learning titles for the library and the counseling office. Now, Diane writes and creates art for young people because she is a kid at heart. She loves to play with words and media. Her style in three words is natural, textural, and inviting. 

Diane is inspired by all things nature, including human beings. The complexity of nature is diverse. It teases her mind to look beyond what’s on the surface. She has many favorite authors and illustrators with the late Steve Jenkins, Jerry Pinkney, and Floyd Cooper being at the top of her list. 

If Diane could live in a book, she would chose Ian Falconer’s OLIVIA DREAM BIG.

 

 

Teaching and supporting others are Diane’s strengths. She’s taught swimming, drawing, painting, photography, design, sculpture, and book-making to kids of all ages. Child development, bullying, conflict resolution, brain based learning, and how to comfort distressed children are topics she has enjoyed teaching about. Currently, Diane lives in Central Oregon, which is former land of the Paiute, Warm Springs, and Wasco Oregon tribes.

Diane is the nonfiction liaison for the Oregon chapter of SCBWI. Her passion began as a child raised in a strong non-fiction, reading home. Nature, outdoor recreation, art, sports, and music topped her families priorities.  

Diane has received merit- based awards/scholarships for her writing and art from organizations including the National Endowment for the Arts. Her photography has been published with the National Park Service. Appearing on both radio and television, she enjoys promoting children’s literature.  

  • Member – The Environmental Center, Bend, Oregon
  • Member – SCBWI Oregon NF Liaison
  • Member – Oregon Natural Desert Association
  • Member – Cascade Mycological Society, Eugene, Oregon
  • Member – The Central Oregon Mushroom Club, Bend, Oregon
  • Member – ACLU