Doreen Lindahl

During many of her 95+ years on this planet, Doreen spent much of her time raising five children and working with written material. She has worked in a legal office and as Family Editor for a small-town newspaper.

Doreen was born and raised in northern Minnesota. As a child she spent summers on her grandparents’ farm where she loved all the farm animals, especially the chickens and cows. At age 13 she even befriended a real live mouse.

Doreen’s love of writing ultimately led her to her 25-year position as Family Editor for the Hibbing Daily Tribune. She covered school events, accidents, and local news. She became known for her lively columns published on her own feature page.

One year Doreen needed a Christmas feature for her page. She had been listening to the Salvation Army talk-a-thon over WMFG radio in Hibbing, MN raising money for the needy at Christmas. After hearing a repeated announcement, “We have another donation from Mr. Anonymous,” she soon began hearing Mr. Anonymous as “A. Nonny Mouse,” and A. Nonny was born.

Doreen created a short story about A. Nonny Mouse as a Christmas gift for her readers. Every year Doreen rewrote the A. Nonny Christmas story, trying to expand and improve it. The story was always just one scene, and A. Nonny had no big problems or antagonist (someone opposing him).

Doreen’s good friend and former classmate, Marion Adamson Bibeau, told Doreen that A. Nonny was “too good and too bland.” He needed a few faults and some problems. Doreen went back to the drawing board and A. Nonny Mouse, who lived on the Moon, came to be.

Doreen writes: “So many people have expressed appreciation for A. Nonny over the years, I can’t possibly remember them all. You know who you are, and you each have my sincere thanks for your encouragement."

Most recently, daughter Donna Lindahl St. Dennis jumped on A. Nonny’s bandwagon. Author of "Your Horse Needs a Bombproof Rider," she shared her writing experience by proofing and suggesting further story changes. Doreen sent out a big "Thank you, Donna, for cheerfully nudging and inspiring me."

And finally, Doreen sends a humongous THANKS to all A. Nonny Mouse readers, children of all ages, for welcoming A. Nonny as he visits Earth in this book. Her wish is for all of you to always have a MERRY CHRISTMAS heart full of love!

POUF!