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CERTIFICATE OF MERIT FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE
Madge Fisher Harrah
BS 1953 - University of Missouri

Madge Fisher Harrah, the daughter of two teachers in Barton County, Missouri, earned a bachelor degree in art and English education, with a minor in music. While a student at MU, Harrah exhibited in art shows, accompanied music majors in recitals, supervised a student art lab, and worked as a graphic artist and student librarian. In addition, she played violin in the university orchestra, sang in the Uiversity Chorus, taught art to 4th graders in the University Lab School, and had two one-act plays producted by the Drama Department.

Since she wrote her first book, Teenagers of the Bible, in 1969, Harrah has published a total of twelve books. In 1997, her novel, My Brother, My Enemy, took grand prize in a national competition for best juvenile fiction sponsored by the National Association of Press Women. Her 2O04 biography, Blind Boone, Piano Prodigy, was named notable social studies trade book for young readers by the National Council of Social Studies.

As a playwright student of Rod Serling, creator of Twilight Zone, she studied at Antioch College in Ohio where she placed first in an international radio playwriting competition in 1964. She later won the Grand Prize in an international competition in 1983 and throughout her career has published over 400 articles, stories and short pieces in local, regional and national publications.

In addition to her writing credits, Harrah has written lyrics, composed and arranged music for plays, floor routines and radio broadcasts. For over 30 years Harrah has lectured and taught creative writing seminars to children. She served on the faculty of Highlights for Children Writers’ School at Chautaqua, NY, and continues to write plays and musicals.

Harrah is married to Larry Harrah, a fellow Mizzou graduate who is a chemist and spectroscopist. They have two children and five grandchildren and currently reside in Albuquerque, NM.

WRITING CREDITS

NOVELS for YOUNG READERS:
Blind Boone: Piano Prodigy; My Brother, My Enemy; Honey Girl; No Escape; Comet Luck; The Nobody Club (out of print). Book of one-act plays, Teenagers of the Bible, Baker's Plays. Short story, "The Chosen," in Night Terrors, an anthology for young adult readers.

Unpublished: Drawing the Line; Doorway to Danger.

NOVELS for ADULTS:
Mirror of Darkness, The Mists of Milwood, Shadow of the Cat, gothic mysteries published under the pseudonym "Monique Hara," Zebra Books. Call of the Dove, inspirational romance, Zondervan Publishing, reprinted by Guideposts.

Unpublished: Vengeance - How I Became a Spy, the True Adventures of a Jewish Refugee in North Africa in WWII, by Joseph George Kesner with Madge Harrah (nonfiction).

SHORT STORIES and ARTICLES:
Over 200 short stories and articles in Guideposts Magazine, Reader's Digest, New Mexico Journey, Writer's Digest, The Upper Room, Saturday Review, Catholic Digest, Albuquerque Magazine, others.

Reprinted in anthologies: "The Blue Lady," A Treasury of Catholic Digest: Favorite Stories of Fifty Years; "The Man Who Cleaned My Shoes," On Children and Death, Elizabeth Kublar-Ross; "Being There," The Gifts of Love, Guideposts; others.

PLAYS
Born of the Sun (with Paula Paul), historical drama about New Mexico, produced by Raton Summer Players in honor of the Columbus Quincentennial, 1992. The Prize, radio drama, First Place winner in international Catholic Radio Drama Competition, produced by NBC Radio, 1983. Bravo, Rio Grande (with Paula Paul), historical drama about New Mexico, produced in honor of 65th year of statehood. The Legend of Old Tome (with Paula Paul), historical outdoor drama about New Mexico, commissioned by the Valencia County Bicentennial Committee, 1976. Others.

TEACHING and SPEAKING CREDITS:

CONFERENCES
Presenter and panelist, national writing conferences, SouthWest Writers and
     Santa Fe Community College, NM (1983-2000)
Speaker, Children's Literature Festivals, Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg;
     and Drury College, Springfield, MO (1998-2006)
Speaker, International Reading Association conferences, New Mexico (1999-2001)
Speaker, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, conferences
     in California (1992, 1993)
Faculty member, national weeklong conference, "Writing for Children,"
     Highlights Foundation, Chatauqua, NY (1993)
Numerous other regional and local conferences

Various presentations to elementary, middle grade, high school and university students, libraries, churches, community organizations, in the following states: New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Kansas, Missouri, North Carolina, Louisiana (1980 to present).

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS and SERVICE AWARDS

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Society for Childrens' Book Writers and Illustrators
SouthWest Writers

SERVICE AWARDS
New Mexico Public Education Department and the Public Education Commission,
     certificate "to recognize and honor Madge Harrah for her outstanding contribution to the
     education of New Mexico children through the stories she shares in her books, especially
     her latest and comprehensively researched true story of Blind Boone," 2004
Woman of Distinction, NM Chaparral Girl Scout Council, 1994
Parris Award for service to SouthWest Writers, 1993
Decade of Dedication Award presented to Col. Larry and Lt. Madge Harrah
     for a "decade of dedicated service to New Mexico Civil Air Patrol," 1990

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Married to Larry Harrah, physical chemist and spectroscopist, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Two children, both grown.