The Author's Story

gloria jean Bodenmuller grew up in a “migrant family” in the Santa Clara Valley and began to enjoy reading books at an early age.  She began writing while in school and was encouraged by her teachers and classmates.  While in high school, she wrote about school activities in the San Jose Mercury News, and more recently she has been published in Good Old Days magazine.  gloria jean has improved her writing skills by completing a correspondence course from the Long Ridge Writers Group and has taken Adult Education Classes on writing and recently attended the Christian Writers Conference held at Mt. Herman, California. She has also participated in Seminars on writing skills and has written a bimonthly newsletter for a local church. After attending the Christian Writers Conference, the Lord laid it on her heart to mentor others. For a small fee, she is available to help fledgling writers develop their writing skills and teach them the ends and outs of publishing. If you are interested, please contact her either on this site or gjbodenmuller@gmail.com

Several years ago gloria jean was inspired to write a children’s book after meeting the children at the school where her granddaughter, Laurel Shea, attends.

After encouragement from a friend, she began to write the children’s book but soon put it aside.  Then in early 2008 she decided to complete the book, “Angels All Around Me.”  And thus, gloria jean ’s first book was published in 2008 and is dedicated to her granddaughter, Laurel Shea Bodenmuller, 7.  “It’s about how God places angels around children … around all of us.  Children today are frightened and this is a way to give them a sense of peace.  Although it was written for Laurel, it is meant for all children who often have fear they are unable to understand, be it from broken homes, financial difficulty or other adversity. " I love children and there is a little child in me that relates to them, making it easier for me to understand and write for children. God has gifted me in this way. Sometimes our pain becomes our passion."

“Angels All Around Me ” uses appropriate passages from the Bible and conveys the message that angels offer their protection to everybody, every day.  gloria jean also created all of the colorful illustrations in the book that help tell the story.

gloria jean's second book, “My Very Own Book About Gardening,” is dedicated to her three grandchildren, Laurel Shea, Aubrey Joy and Steven Joseph.  This is a children’s book about gardening, based on Christian principles.

gloria jean's third book, "What is Easter," explains what Easter is all about. (32 pages)

gloria jean's fourth book, "The Christmas Star," explains to children the true meaning of Christmas. (38 pages) Both the Easter and Christmas books begin with the secular meaning of Christmas and Easter and then go on to tell of the true meaning.

gloria jean's fifth book, "Heaven,"explains to children how heaven will be. (63 pages)

gloria jean's sixth book, "What Is Love," is one where the children virtually wrote and illustrated this book, and gloria jean added appropriate scripture for each illustration.

gloria jean' s seventh book, "A Girl from Silicon Valley" is now available on this site. gloria jean was born and raised in what is now Silicon Valley and this book is her memoirs of Silicon Valley when it was known as Santa Clara Valley.

gloria jean's eighth book is "A Boy Named Siegfried," memoirs of her husband, Fred .

gloria jean's ninth book, ""Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4" is a Daily Devotional, which was published in January 2019.


She currently helps fledging writers to get started and published. 

gloria jean is working on a current book and as well as future speaking engagements. Several will be in the Bay Area and some locally.

She will keep you posted as they come to fruition.

“WHATEVER YOU DO, WORK AT IT WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AS WORKING FOR THE LORD, NOT FOR MEN, SINCE YOU KNOW THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE AN INHERITANCE FROM THE LORD AS A REWARD. IT IS THE LORD CHRIST YOU ARE SERVING.” COLOSSIANS 3:23&24.