Eldorado author Rosalie Murray promoting her children's books
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Eldorado native Rosalie Murray has returned home and is promoting children's books modeled after the antics of her pets.
"I started out in high school writing and never have stopped," Murray said.
She is working on an autobiography and a romance mystery titled "Mississippi Dream," but currently she is promoting her series of children's books, the most recent being "Yum Yum and her Christmas Mouse."
A former preschool teacher, Murray has always had affinity for seeing children learn and hopes her books are engaging for children and for the parents who read to them.
"Some would say my mind is on their level," Murray said.
She draws inspiration from her household pets. Yum Yum is her Siamese cat.
"This is basically a true story," Murray said.
"One Christmas a little white mouse came to the house."
To Murray, the two appeared to be entertaining each other.
"It was cute how they played and she didn't kill it. I don't think it was afraid of her. They played," Murray said.
Her book "Two for Breakfast" is based on the interactions of Yum Yum and another cat, Big Boy.
One of Murray's favorite authors is Beatrix Potter who created the enduring Peter Rabbit.
"What I do is humanize animals. My animals talk, of course, and she does that so beautifully," Murray said.
One of the themes of Murray's childrens' books is friendship.
"It doesn't matter who you are or what you are, if you find your friend, you can be apples and oranges, but a friend is a friend," Murray said.
Murray's grandparents owned the Murray Hotel located near the train depot and she was born in the hotel, she said. She has been back in Eldorado about four years, having lived in Collinsville, Florida, Mississippi, Chicago and Arizona.
"I've loved everywhere I've moved," she said.
Murray will be selling her books at the Southeastern Illinois College Heritage Festival, at the Eldorado Old City Hall Museum Christmas Tree Festival and she is setting up book signing dates.
Ordering information on Murray's books are at the Web site http://www.rosaliemurray.com.
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DeNeal receives e-mail at bdeneal@yourclearwave.com.</li>
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