Written by Abby Schirmacher
Teresa R. Funke lives in Colorado, and over the years has created her brand by writing books about World War II. Her fictional books are targeted towards both children and adults. Teresa has also created a variety of supplementary teaching materials and tools that pair with her books to be used in a classroom setting.
Funke’s many creative endeavors go beyond writing and authoring books. Her platform consists of three areas: book sales, coaching, and teaching. She is a motivational speaker that frequently visits local schools and serves as a writing consultant in addition to her structured writing courses. Teresa is very passionate about her community and generously gives back to organizations, like Off the Hook Arts, every day. She strives to support members of the community in the realms of literacy, arts, and education. As an advocate for art, Funke believes, “we all have an inner artist.”
Funke is aware of the difficulty for young children learning remotely. “During this pandemic, it was the artists that kept us going,” she says. Funke provided resources for students, parents, and teachers to navigate this uncertain time and to promote learning uniquely. Only a week after students transitioned to remote learning, she created tools for families, teachers, and students to utilize and increase their knowledge about World War II. Funke’s goal is for her resources to shift towards benefitting families while kids spend the summer at home.
In addition to content relevant to World War II, Funke has also provided inspirational books and a blog for her audience. Her book, Bursts of Brilliance for a Creative Life, is a compilation of her blog posts over the past six years. The basis of her first nonfiction piece is “about why art matters, and how art connects us all, and how art connects us to our higher selves.”
Funke gives back to the local community in a variety of ways. She strongly believes in the importance of home libraries, where students can build their book collection and always have access to a good read. Especially during this pandemic, it’s more important than ever for kids to be reading and gaining knowledge in any shape or form. Here at OtHA, we value Funke’s contributions and her devotion to the community and those around her!
Visit Teresa’s website to learn more about her mission, her Bursts of Brilliance ® products and business, and the steps she’s taking to support the community: https://www.teresafunke.com. Also check out her social media pages for motivational messages and information about book drives, resources, and how we can support one another during this difficult time!
Facebook: @teresafunkeandcompany
Instagram: @teresa.r.funke
Twitter: @teresafunke
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP3qGOs8-GMt32xxX2Ubbtw
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresafunke/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/teresafunke/boards/
Bursts of Brilliance for a Creative Life ®, available on Amazon