lettrés fondateurs

TD, founder of Totally Literate, pictured way back when, served in a recon platoon in Vietnam with the U.S. Army. He attended the U. of Maryland in College Park, getting a B.S. in Finance & later a B.A. in Eng. After writing TRWRR, he attended the College of Notre Dame in Baltimore to acquire de rigueur teaching credentials. While teaching in NYC, he attended SUNY Stony Brook, where he received a M.A. in Liberal Studies. He grew up in DC, & he currently resides in Helene-ravaged western NC.

Danielle, bilingual in English and Spanish, is the author's goddaughter and his inspiration for writing TRWRR. As a grownup, she translated one half of the book's stories into Español Mexicano. She and her Mexican husband Manuel have three lovely daughters. All of whom started to read both English and Spanish at the tender age of 3. In 2016 Danielle became a practicing lawyer and a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association.

Brian, the author's nephew and "bestest buddy" growing up, is totally literate in English and literate to various degrees in Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, and Hindi. He is the founder of Mine Life, a collaborative database for investors in various mining industries.

Philip, my "nephew" and bosom buddy growing up, is today an airplane pilot with Spirit Airlines and the SPA Government Affairs Chairman!

These siblings were / are apt students indeed. They are the children of Terrence and Patricia McGann, and cousins of Brian McGann.

Thomas is the son of handicapped parents. He and the author have known one another ever since the boy was born, actually in his mother's womb. In first grade, he was given a copy of TRWRR, and with help of neighbors and friends, he learned to read. He intends to enter college soon and seek a degree in engineering.

Brighid Eileen is a mother of two young daughters. She attended the University of Notre Dame, as did her mother and father. Today she teaches at Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School in Bethesda, Maryland where her mother was the principal till recently.

Brendon is a West Point grad. He's a former Special Forces captain in the U.S. Army. Now he's serving actively in the Army Reserves. He's bilingual, his second language being Pashto, which is spoken in Afghanistan, one of his former deployments. He's a proud husband of a pretty woman with whom they have three very lovely daughters.

Eva, collaborating with Danielle, translated TRWRR's stories into Castilian Spanish. She is a native Spaniard now living in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. Her congeniality and professionalism was and is greatly appreciated. Besides running a translation service, she does pro bono work as an interpreter for "documented" Mexican immigrants.