[1] Churnin is a former theater critic for The Dallas Morning News and has published sixteen children's books as of February 2025.
[1] Churnin worked as a theater critic for the San Diego edition of the Los Angeles Times from 1986 to 1992.
In 2000, she joined the staff of The Dallas Morning News, writing about such topics as health, lifestyles, children's entertainment, and parenting.
[3] Churnin's first picture book, The William Hoy Story: How a Deaf Baseball Player Changed the Game was published in 2016.
Churnin's 17th book, A Teddy Bear for Emily―and President Roosevelt, Too will be published on March 6, 2025 [5] Churnin met her husband, Michael Granberry, while they were both writing for the San Diego edition of the Los Angeles Times.