Dena Davis, creator of Stories by the Sea, has been a classroom, GATE, and RtI teacher for over 13 years in California and Maine and has worked with children of all ages for many, many more. She is mom to two sons, one of whom has a rare genetic syndrome, Cornelia deLange Syndrome (or CdLS). She holds a B.A. in English from Stanford University and a M.A. in Education from University of California, Berkeley. The highlight of her teaching career has been working with young writers, helping them discover, develop, and celebrate each one’s unique voice, and encouraging them to share with a larger audience at their annual Authors’ Tea. She became a National Writing Project Fellow/Teaching Consultant in 2003 through the Southern California Writing Project (SCWriP), led in-service workshops for her colleagues in Northern and Central California, and enjoyed leading a Creative Writing Club for 4th-6th graders at St. George School in Maine. She facilitated a Young Authors Camp in Rockland, Maine for two summers as well as a variety of writing workshops at different locations for all ages in Midcoast Maine. After returning to Santa Barbara, she led a Nature, Art and Story Camp. She believes strongly in process, imagination, experimentation, free expression, and play.
In 2026, Dena partnered with the Grace Fisher Foundation and led a multigenerational Family Stories series at the Inclusive Arts Clubhouse. She also launched a Creative Expression for Caregivers group that meets monthly.
Her love of teaching writing is matched by her love of quality children's literature. She recently retired her pop-up bookshop, but continues to highlight diverse and inclusive books on her blog. You can find her on Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky, where she would love to connect and chat about books, writing, social justice, parenting, advocacy, and other shared passions.
Dena is also a pre-published picture book author and member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and 12X12. She is a Children's Book Academy Mentorship Graduate, where she won two Golden Tickets, and has participated in numerous workshops at The Writing Barn, Storyteller Academy, SCBWI, and Children's Book Insider. Literary awards include winning FIRST PLACE in Vivian Kirkfield's 2022 #50PreciousWords writing challenge with her entry, WALK ON, inspired by her son's experience with therapeutic riding. She also won in 2026 with her entry, SOFT SERVE KING. In 2026, her writing won a scholarship to the Santa Barbara Writers Conference in the Children's Literature category. She is writing, revising, querying, and submitting several heartfelt picture books!
In 2026, Dena partnered with the Grace Fisher Foundation and led a multigenerational Family Stories series at the Inclusive Arts Clubhouse. She also launched a Creative Expression for Caregivers group that meets monthly.
Her love of teaching writing is matched by her love of quality children's literature. She recently retired her pop-up bookshop, but continues to highlight diverse and inclusive books on her blog. You can find her on Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky, where she would love to connect and chat about books, writing, social justice, parenting, advocacy, and other shared passions.
Dena is also a pre-published picture book author and member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and 12X12. She is a Children's Book Academy Mentorship Graduate, where she won two Golden Tickets, and has participated in numerous workshops at The Writing Barn, Storyteller Academy, SCBWI, and Children's Book Insider. Literary awards include winning FIRST PLACE in Vivian Kirkfield's 2022 #50PreciousWords writing challenge with her entry, WALK ON, inspired by her son's experience with therapeutic riding. She also won in 2026 with her entry, SOFT SERVE KING. In 2026, her writing won a scholarship to the Santa Barbara Writers Conference in the Children's Literature category. She is writing, revising, querying, and submitting several heartfelt picture books!
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