My Life as a Writer

Early Years
Because Dad was in the Air Force, we moved a lot! I was the new kid in school seven times. I went to three high schools. 

​How It Began
When I was 6, Grandma flew from Missouri to visit. I made her a shopping guide composed of Big Chief tablet pages stapled together and filled it with newspaper prices for things Grandma might want. My first book!

​First Publication
We moved to Ohio before I started fourth grade. One of my stories was chosen for publication in our school newspaper. The papers cost five cents, and I was fizzy with knowing that people paid to read my story.
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By high school we had moved from Ohio to Texas. I won a writing competition with a historical fiction story about the Battle of Bull Run.
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I'm the oldest--and the tallest.
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This is the first library book my Dad brought home for me. The idea that you could get books free at the library was astonishing to me as a kid. And it still is!
​Reading and Writing
I earned a couple of degrees in education, married, and moved to Houston. We both were elementary teachers. We were joined by twin sons and a daughter. Reading to them every day was a favorite time, and helped me learn a lot about children's books. I returned to university and earned certification as a school librarian.
My First Book for Children
The idea for Substitute Groundhog came from a kindergartner. I had asked his class, "What animal pops up out of its hole to tell the weather next week?" His answer? An armadillo! Two years later, when I needed a story idea, I wondered, "What if an armadillo did perform on Groundhog's Day? Why wasn't the groundhog doing it instead? Hmmmm...."

​Today 
I left my career as a teacher and school librarian to work full-time as a writer and visiting author. I wrote Substitute Groundhog, Squirrel's New Year's Resolution, The Hole Story of the Doughnut, and six more.
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Reading to my three kids was always a must at bedtime.
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Both of our twins have twins--and we continue to read!
My children have grown up and have nine little ones of their own. Once again, I am reading books to children on my lap. 
Still learning 
​I attend a lot of conferences and sessions for librarians and writers. I energize school librarians, and writers, when I present my own workshops. And I love to visit schools as an author. Reading, writing, and being with kids. Bliss!           
 PictureEditor Kim Griswell critiques my story at a Highlights Founders Workshop.