Ted Dunagan
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My cousin read me my first story when I was five years old, and I was astounded that such things existed. I walked around for days retelling the story in my head, and I still remember the plot, the characters and the storyline. It was a fairy tale called Hansel and Gretel, which hooked me on books for life.

My next literary stage took place when I was about 12 years old. It was then I discovered the work of Robert Louis Stevenson, Daniel Defoe, Mark Twain, and others. At the time I thought I wanted to be just like Tom and Huck, but later in life I discovered it was the writers, and not the characters, whom I truly desired to emulate.

Alas, my life plan led to business rather than literature, but it was always there, lingering in the back of my mind, that burning desire to set pen to paper. I never abandoned the reading. No, I pursued it with vigor and consumed books like a fire does fuel. But the writing was just in my mind.

A few years ago a great blessing was bestowed upon me when I was afforded the time to chase my dream. The dream turned into a nightmare on many occasions along the way, but I endured, I read and I wrote.

I forgot to mention I also prayed. I prayed that what I wrote would be of the highest purpose and serve the greatest good, and would inspire and not degrade, as I used common words to say uncommon things, which might make my grandchildren proud.

Today, I’m an award winning young adult fiction writer with two books to my credit, a third one due out very soon, all from my publisher, NewSouth Books. I’m well into number four, and the one after that is floating around in the back of my mind.

I’m also a newspaper man, something else I always wanted to do. I write news, sports and feature stories, and a weekly column called “I’m Fixin’ To,” all for The Monticello News.

On top of all this, I traipse all over the South doing author visits at elementary and middle schools, teaching kids what it was like to be a kid long ago, the wonder of reading, and the art of writing.

Published Books

A Yellow Watermelon

Ted Dunagan (Author) Reading level: Young Adult Hardcover: 240 pages Publisher: NewSouth Books; (October 1, 2007)

ISBN-10: 1588381978 ISBN-13: 978-1588381972

Format: Kindle Edition File Size: 440 KB Publisher: NewSouth Books (March 7, 2011) Sold by: Amazon Digital Services

ASIN: B004QZ9VOG Download

In the summer of 1948 in rural south Alabama, whites picked on one side of the cotton field and blacks on the other. Where the fields come together, twelve-year-old Ted meets Poudlum, a black boy his own age, who teaches him how to endure the hard work while they bond and go on to integrate the field. Through Poudlum and Jake, an escaped black convict, Ted learns of evil forces gathering against Poudlum’s family. The white boy and the black boy encounter danger and suspense while executing a plan to save Poudlum’s family, set Jake onto a river of freedom, and discover a great, yet simple secret of enlightenment.

Reviews
Kirkus Reviews
• "A memorable, generous-hearted tale."

Rutgers University School of Arts and Sciences
• Three unlikely friends find themselves enmeshed in an adventure of intrigue and danger that seems to grow bigger by the day. With its colorful prose, exciting plot, and rich historical context, this novel successfully manages to embed an important reminder of the deep South before the Civil Rights era into an entertaining action-packed story.
    Thoroughly ingrained into the plot are some important economic principles related to poverty, decent wages, and property rights. This engrossing book is sure to please even the most discerning of readers.

Florence Times Daily
• A Yellow Watermelon is reminiscent of some of the best Southern books. Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain immediately comes to mind, as does Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird.

Don Noble, Alabama Public Radio
• A Yellow Watermelon has some nice characterization and local color of what folks eat, work songs in the field, ordering school clothes from the Sears and Roebuck catalog, but also plenty of action. I think this is more than enough plot action to satisfy a young reader.
The Anniston Star
• If you have a young adult in your house who likes to read, or one who doesn't like to read but who you think might if it is the right book, here is what you're looking for—A Yellow Watermelon.

Adrian Fogelin, author of Crossing Jordan and The Sortta Sisters
• "With deft and precise language Ted Dunagan tells a story that is both beautifully wrought and unstinting in its portrayal of all that was good and bad in Dixie.

Secret of the Satilfa Ted M. Dunagan (Author) Reading level: Young Adult Hardcover: 208 pages Publisher: NewSouth Books (June 1, 2010)

 

ISBN-10: 1588382494 ISBN-13: 978-1588382498

Kindle Edition, Publisher: NewSouth Books (2010)

ASIN: B004MJLN9M
Download

In the fall of 1948, Ted and Poudlum have their post-Thanksgiving fishing trip to the Cypress Hole on Satilfa Creek interrupted by unwelcome visitors, fugitive bank robbers. They manage to escape and return to the Satilfa to search along with seemingly half the locals for money rumored to have been hidden by the criminals. However, Ted and Poudlum have a clue no one else possesses, which indirectly leads to their triumph. Through their exposure to some memorable individuals, the boys grow in character and knowledge as the story progresses, and in the end they are serenaded by angelic voices.
Nominated for the Georgia Author Of The Year Award

Reviews
Dr. Don Noble of Alabama Public TV and Radio
• "Secret of the Satilfa includes a number of what might be called teachable moments. The novel seems situated squarely in its genre. This is a nicely paced story with excitement, nostalgia and a tolerable number of lessons worth learning."
Rutgers University School of Arts and Sciences
• In Secret of the Satilfa, the boy's cascading exploits and the deep historical context cleverly wraps an important lesson about segregation and racial inequality into an enjoyable story. The reader is reminded that money can serve as a powerful incentive, especially for two steadfast friends with some inside information as to where it may be hidden.
Awards
• 2009 Georgia Author of the Year Award for A Yellow Watermelon in the Young Adult category in a ceremony held June 13, 2009 at the Kennesaw State University Center in Kennesaw, Georgia, hosted by the Georgia Writers Association. This award is the oldest literary competition in the southeast. Submissions are evaluated for their narrative quality, creativity, enduring message and ability to evoke emotion.

Katherine Mason, Assistant Professor of English at KSU and lead judge of the Young Adult category said, "A Yellow Watermelon reveals the power of friendship and loyalty to overcome racial and economic prejudice in 1940's Alabama. Told from twelve-year-old Ted Dillon's point of view, the story is suspenseful and captivating, with authentic dialogue and engaging sentence variety."

Accelerated Reader Title
• A Yellow Watermelon was selected as an Accelerated Reader Title in the fall of 2009 by Renaissance Learning with a points level of nine. Learning guides, along with level, interest, and points (9) may be found
at: http://www.renlearn.com/store/quiz_home.asp

Georgia Center
• In August of 2010, the Georgia Center for the Book selected A Yellow Watermelon to their list of the 25 books every young person in Georgia should read.

Christopher Award
• Secret of the Satilfa has been nominated for the Christopher Award and also for the 2010 Georgia Author of the Year Award.
Coming Soon! 
TROUBLE ON THE TOMBIGBEE (Third in the series):
Ted Dunagan (author) Publisher: NewSouth Books (Due out in August 2011)
  • In the spring of 1949, Ted and Poudlum embark on an extended camping and fishing trip on the Tombigbee River, only to stumble upon a secret meeting of the Klan, and discovering the secret identity of the leaders. After which they are chased up and down the river by the hooded phantoms. They escape in a horrendous storm and flood, only to be washed up on the river bank at the camp of river pirates and bootleggers, who capture them and plan to sell them down the river as slaves on merchant ships sailing for China. After witnessing a murder, they once again escape and use the great river and its forest to evade the evil forces bearing down on them.

and 

  • THE SALVATION OF MISS LUCRETIA (Fourth in the series): A work in progress

    • Presentation

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    Testimonials -
    A Few Words From Teachers:

    Lowrey Wilson, Lumpkin County Middle School Media Specialist, Dahlonega, GA
    ●  "Ted, thanks so much for speaking to my 6th and 7th graders. They were so excited! The students can really relate to the characters in your books and the situations they get themselves into - several told me they wished they were having the adventures! I really appreciate that you gave them information about how to write a book, and encouraged them that they, too, could become writers. It was fun to watch how they were hanging on every word as you read from the books! The question-and-answer section as great fun, especially the secret question. Now I have a waiting list of students that want to check out your books - it's great to see the kids so excited about reading. We can't wait for Trouble on the Tombigbee to come out!"

    Gary Parker, Media Specialist, Carmel Elementary, Woodstock, GA.
    • "Ted, thank you so much for coming out and speaking with our fifth graders at Carmel Elementary School Our kids really enjoyed the visit and as you could see they were so intrigued that there were too many questions to even answer. You picked great excerpts from both books to read and I recall the kids were hooked. Your books cover so many important topics from race relations, civil rights, friendship, character, and good old fashioned fun, why I think they have been so well received. You made a good point when asked why you wrote the books, you replied that you wanted kids and adults alike to have a good story without a wizard or a vampire! The crowd, who laughed and applauded, really liked that and I think you put it well without knocking the wizard books and alike. I think it meant a bit to them to hear that they can be a writer if they want . . .

    Annell Gordon, Wilson Hall Middle School, Grove Hill, AL.
    • "What delicious options A Yellow Watermelon and Secret of the Satilfa present for book-hungry students that savor the adventure, mystery, and the lessons learned by Poudlum and Ted in coming-of-age stories set in their own back yards!"

    Mary Dean, Media Specialist, Jefferson Parkway Elementary, Newnan, GA.
    • "Dear Mr. Dunagan, Thank you for coming to visit us today at Jefferson Parkway! We all loved hearing you talk about your books and the writing process. I got notes from teachers stating how much they enjoyed your visit. The kids are dying to read your books. I can hardly wait for book number three! I love Ted and Poudlum and their adventures."

    Douglas Weeks, Gatewood Schools, Eatonton, GA.
    • "I have a waiting list a mile long for A Yellow Watermelon, and the kids who have already read it are bugging me to death to find out when the sequel, Secret of the Satilfa, will be here."

    A FEW LETIERS I'VE GOTTEN FROM KIDS:
    Jessica L.
     • "My eighth grade class just finished reading Secret of the Satilfa. I honestly enjoyed reading every minute of it. The suspenseful way you ended chapters made me want to keep going. Also, I enjoyed A Yellow Watermelon. Ted's innocence and willingness to help his friends despite what society thought touched my heart in more ways than you can imagine,"

    T. Hud
    • "Thank you so much for both of your books. I enjoyed, laughed, cried and cheered you and Poudlum on. I wish you would write some more soon."

    Contact

    Ted Dunagan
    2677 Turtle Cove Trailway
    Monticello, GA 31064

    Phone: 706-468-9083
     tmdunagan@aol.com

    Website: www.teddunagan.com

    You can reach Ted at  LinkedIn

    05/11/12 date this page was last edited      Click HERE to return to state page