Denise Doyen, who has taken several Writers’ Program picture book courses, will see her first children’s book published by Random House this August. Once Upon a Twice is an adventure poem set in the world of night-foraging mice. Kirkus Reviews gave the book, illustrated by Barry Moser, a starred review in their July 15th issue: “This slight cautionary tale is undeniably arrayed in a gorgeous brocade, woven of fresh, inventive wordplay and masterful illustrations.”

“When my boys were no longer little kids, I decided to pursue my dream of becoming a published author,” Denise explains. “I enrolled in ‘Writing for the Youth Market’ classes at UCLA Extension and developed Once Upon a Twice in Ann Whitford Paul’s picture book class. I came to class with the opening stanza, feeling that there was a story to follow, but not sure exactly it what was. Finally, about two weeks before the end of class, I found an exciting children’s story behind my poetic stanza.”

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