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Mosetta Penick Phillips-Cermak
Mosetta M. Penick Phillips-Cermak, born 194? (Mosetta Penick), is an American author of children, teens, and young adult books.

Her first short story was The Pink Elephant.

Her first book, Inky and Me, was published when she was about ten years old.

As a pre-teen, or very young teen she wrote Once Upon a Time on the Moon, inspired by the launching of "Sputnik 1" in 1959, and also influenced by H.G. Wells' First Men in the Moon. A story of three teenagers trying to build a rocket to the moon, and instead, blowing a hole in the roof of their parent's house.

The Lavender Dress was inspired by a racial incident that happened when she was only five (5) years old.

In addition she has written two teen/YA romances, Each Day I Die (circa 1966). Donald (circa 1971).

During the late 1970's until 1990, Dr. Mosetta practiced as a medical psychotherapist/clinical counselor, taught teachers' education and served on the board of various non-profit organizations. In 1991, she returned to teaching for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, where she was injuried breaking up a fight between two students.

Return to Writing
No longer able to walk without assistance, Dr. Mosetta returned to writing. In May 2007, The Wishing Flower was first published as a short story in The Writers Post Journal. Also in 2007, Dr. Mosetta signed a contract with PM Moon Publishers, LLC. Her first efforts were The Typewriter (Sci-Fi), The Wishing Flower, now expanded into a children's picture book.

In 2008, The Magic of Laven-Rock was released. She has also completed The Cloud (Y/A fantasy), The Book of Moncoto (Middle-Grade Chapter Book), The Viper and the Brown Barn Owl, My Grandma has Two Birthdays (picture books), and Rajah and the Big Blue Ball, one of the six Rajah books. .

Early Life, Family, and Marriages
Born on December 16th to Bertha and Mose Penick, Dr. Mosetta is the older sister of former University of Notre Dame football star, Eric A. Penick ('73). Born in Cleveland Ohio, Dr. Penick Phillips-Cermak received degrees from Cuyahoga Community College, Ursuline College , John Carroll University, and the University of Akron in the field of psychology. Her teaching certification is from Western Governors University. In 1965, she married Donald C. Phillips. They divorced cira 1990. They have two living children, Donnita and Donald-Anthony. In 1993, She married Robert J. Cermak.

Awards
Her first award was for the book Inky and Me. Away from Children's writting for almost thirty-five years, she soon received a nomination in 2008 for The Magic of Laven-Rock upon her return to fiction. In 2009, she received two book award nominations for Rajah and the Big Blue Ball.