Peggy J. Shaw: Author, Editor, Speaker

Helping writers of all ages to bring their manuscripts or book ideas to life.

Hello, I’m Peggy J. Shaw

I write and edit stories for children and adults in Georgia, where Margaret Mitchell penned “that book” about the Civil War, Pulitzer Prize-winner Eugene Patterson wrote editorials about the Civil Rights Movement, and former President Jimmy Carter composes histories, memoirs, and even poetry to this day. Storyteller Carmen Agra Deedy dreams up classics like The Library Dragon here, Lynn Cullen spins historical fiction like Twain’s End, and Vicki Alvear Schecter thrills young readers with books like Cleopatra’s Moon, set in ancient times.

Not bad company.

If you’re searching for someone who loves hanging out in bookshops, can’t resist peeking at the new picture books in Decatur, Georgia’s Little Shop of Stories (one of the best bookstores in the South!), attends book fests, and reads favorite books again and again, I’m here to give you a hand.

A longtime writer and editor, I’ve worked with Sesame Workshop and Disney, Dalmatian Press, Piggy Toes Press, and Intervisual Books. A member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), I’ve participated in the Savannah Children’s Book Festival and Decatur Book Festival (the largest independent book festival in the country), made author visits and lead workshops, and taught Writing for Young Children at Emory University’s Continuing Education program.

I love helping writers of all ages to bring their manuscripts or book ideas to life.

Wren Cottage Writing & Editing

P. J. Shaw is the author/editor of some 50 books, a professional journalist, and public relations specialist.

Genres for children and adults include:

biographies
board books
captioned coloring books
chapter books
classics
early & middle-grade readers
historical fiction
novels
picture books/rhyme & prose
parenting guides
pop-ups & interactive books
self-help books
spiritual books
workbooks
young adult titles

Sesame Street: The Storybook ABCs

“A is for Apple, B is for Bear. But if you think this Sesame Street book is nothing more than a letter and picture association game, you may be in for a surprise! Taking its cue from nursery rhymes, this delightful little book uses the alphabet in new and amusing ways. Blending Sesame Street characters and modified rhymes, it will not only teach kids the alphabet, but also entertain them. I highly recommend Storybook ABCs as a fun way for your little ones to learn their ABCs.” —Alice Berger, Berger’s Book Reviews

Sesame Street: What Makes You Giggle

“The story is fun for us to read together and he loves the colorful pictures. There is just enough story to give us our 15 or 20 minutes reading time before bed. There is so much in the pictures to share, that we can easily extend that reading time to 30 minutes, or more, during the day.” —Carol K., Amazon

Sesame Street: Abby Cadabby's Rhyme Time

“My 9-month-old loves having this story read to her at bedtime. It has lots of rhymes and she likes the pictures. She won’t be able to read this on her own until she is 5 or 6, but she smiles and claps when we read it to her now.”—Erica S., Amazon

ABCs of Cookies

“This is a fun book for learning the alphabet. It’s got some cute rhymes. When I read the story, I feel like I can hear the actual characters’ voices in my head.”—Amazon Review

Voices: Reflections on an American Icon Through Words and Song

“Ninety-six pages of remembrances as well as music inspired by the American movement for Civil Rights. The book offers reflections from foot soldiers who marched alongside Dr. King, contemporary observers, and distinguished witnesses to history, such as Julian Bond, U.S. Rep. John Lewis, and Harris Wofford, assistant to President John F. Kennedy. Also included are writers, like the spirited poet Nikki Giovanni. Nobel Peace Prize-winners Jimmy Carter and Archbishop Desmond Tutu have also added their thoughts on King, whose passion was to bring all people together in a symphony of love, said Noel Leo Erskine, an associate professor of ethics and theology at Emory University.” — Amazon Review

"By words the mind is winged."

—Aristophanes

Special thanks to artist Camille Engel for Carolina Wren images
from her oil paintings.