Meet Stephanie Dorn | Small Business Owner & Children’s Book Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Stephanie Dorn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephanie, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I was born and raised in Huntington Beach, CA in a close family of four (my mom, dad and older brother)… plus our dog, three cats, two parakeets, and our tortoise! After graduating from Huntington Beach High School in 1991, I attended UC San Diego, majoring in Cultural Anthropology and Spanish Literature. While in college, I spent my junior year studying abroad in Madrid, Spain.

My brother and I were raised by very supportive, encouraging and fun-loving parents who taught us strong work ethic, family values, tradition, and respect. We lived in a busy household and made each other laugh… all the time! I continue to live by these standards as I co-own a small business with my wonderful husband, Christian and raise two teenage daughters, Sydney and Cameron.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m an energetic and creative person who has always loved writing. I worked as a corporate Marketing Director and copywriter for nearly two decades where I was able to develop national sales campaigns, slogans and sales materials. Once I switched career paths and joined my husband in managing our San Clemente business, (A Clear View Window Cleaning), I haven’t had the opportunity to tap into my creative skills, professionally.

It’s around the house, however, that I get to unleash my creative sense of humor. I am constantly making up jingles, short stories and poems! I’ve been known to bust out with (what I think are) silly and ridiculous “ditties”… only to find that my kids are laughing, friends are wondering how I come up with this stuff, and my husband is suggesting I write lyrics for commercials and TV shows! Who knew?!?

During the pandemic in 2020, I decided to write and self-publish my first children’s book, Me and the Monkeys. This was purely a hobby and fun side project. Not knowing the first thing about the publishing process, I did a lot of research, commissioned an illustrator (Ashley Casalino), and promoted my book to friends and family through social media. This was a proud moment for me and a positive learning experience… life was good.

On July 3rd, 2021, however, my entire outlook on life and my light-hearted spirit took a turn. My brother (and only sibling) was tragically beaten to death by a stranger while walking home one evening in Hermosa Beach. The “Beaver Cleaver” world that I once knew, is now shattered. Our family and friends are not only mourning the loss of an incredible person, but we are currently dealing with the daunting process of his murder trial.

This impossible reality prompted me to write and publish my second children’s book. Piper the Pup. It is a story about a girl who loses her pet and has to learn how to cope and move forward. Written as a tribute, I portray the girl and “the pup” personifies my brother, Jeff. The message behind the story, is applicable to anyone (young or old) who loses a loved one and needs to find comfort. This time, writing was not just for fun, but served as a therapeutic process for me.

Between senseless crime on the streets and school shootings, there seems to be a lot more violence than ever. Families, like mine, are completely turned upside down. Rather than curling up in a ball of depression or lashing out in anger, I have channeled my sadness into something productive that I hope will help and motivate others. Not many children’s books address how to handle grief. Whether it’s a pet, friend, or family member, the pain feels the same. My goal is for my book to serve as a tool that helps people navigate difficult conversations about death and provide support for young ones.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
As a SoCal native living in San Clemente, I would definitely take a visiting friend to Lower Trestles (where the surfing world championships take place). We would then take a walk downtown on Del Mar for boutique shopping, pedicures at Mingees’ Nail Salon, and a glass of wine at The Cellar. Afterwards, we would continue to the San Clemente pier for a beautiful sunset dinner at The Fisherman’s Restaurant.

Sailing and whale watching out of Dana Point Harbor makes for a fun daytime excursion.

Venturing further up the coast, we would have to spend a day at one of the many spectacular coves in Laguna Beach – perfect for snorkeling and tide pooling!

Finally, a tour of the Los Rios District in San Juan Capistrano (home of the swallows and the oldest continually occupied neighborhood in the state of California) is always a treat for tourists. Live music under the stars at the historical San Juan Mission is also a must!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to give a shoutout to my dad, Rod Woods, for teaching me the importance of family, loyalty, love, and laughter. At the same time, he taught me respect, hard work and responsibility. My dad and I have stuck together through some very difficult times, including the passing of my mom in 2015 and most recently, the tragic loss of my brother, in July 2021. It’s thanks to the influence of my dad that I have always been a strong, confident, outgoing and secure individual.

Website: www.aclearviewcleaning.com

Instagram: stephanie_dorn1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephanie.dorn.98

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/a-clear-view-window-cleaning-san-clemente

Other: Both Children’s Books (“Me and the Monkeys” and “Piper the Pup”) are available for purchase online: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Stephanie+dorn&crid=CIAGBGX2Z5NT&sprefix=stephanie+dorn%2Caps%2C129&ref=nb_sb_noss_1 Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Stephanie%20Dorn

Image Credits
Alivia Bachman Diana Kulmann Ashley Casalino