Shirley Fouts

Shirley Clement-Fouts is co-author of three non-fiction books, the latest of which, A Chance For Every Child, published in 2008. She is also author of two poetry books, Echoes Through The Pass, 1998 and Reflections on a Window, 2005. Clement-Fouts has written articles for such publications as New Mexico Magazine and El Paso Inside and Out, several short stories, and many prizewinning poems. Her early books and credits are in the name of Shirley G. Clement. After the death of her first husband, she changed her name when she married local architect Robert Fouts.

Clement-Fouts began writing song words for a religious arts festival at her church three decades ago. Since then, she has penned more than twenty songs, including the libretto for a musical about El Paso, unpublished due to the death of the composer. She has served as judge, critiqued multiple manuscripts, and presented at many writing workshops, including the prestigious Southwest Writers (SIC) Workshop in Albuquerque, Poetry Society of Texas, and Poetry in the Arts in Austin. She is the Past President of two area writing groups and often gives readings for special programs and openings.

After retiring early as a middle school educator, Clement-Fouts, B.A., MEd., began her own school and later taught at five universities, including a Creative Writing course at Paris American Academy, Paris, France (twice); and the Sergeants Major Academy at Fort Bliss, Texas for six years. After retiring for the fourth time, Clement-Fouts began her writing career. Widely traveled in eleven countries, Clement-Fouts continues to promote reading, poetry and song-writing. She is the mother of four children, grandmother of nine, and great-grandmother of three.