Ellen
Macaulay is a true Institute of Children’s Literature success story.
Ellen
Macaulay is a true Institute of Children’s Literature success story.
She prepared for her career by enrolling in the Institute’s introductory course and honed her skills through two graduate courses. Profiled in Success Stories, an Institute text, Ms. Macaulay has over 100 articles, short stories, and book credits. Her work has appeared in Disney Adventures, National Geographic World, Better Homes & Gardens, Writer’s Digest, and Child Life.
Ms. Macaulay’s most recent books are Louisiana (Children’s Press, 2003) and Arkansas (Children’s Press, 2002).
She was also a contributing writer for City by the Bay, A History of Modern San Francisco (Heritage Media Corporation, 1999).
Trade books include Worm Poop for Fun and Profit—A Kid’s Guide to Indoor Composting (Red Hen Publications, Inc., 2003) and Klutz Kwiz Cards—Language Arts (Klutz Press, 2003).
More on Ellen Macaulay’s books
Bobi Martin
“No
library should be without this book,” said children’s librarian Libby Nelson in
her review of Ms. Martin’s first book, All About Scarecrows (Tomato
Enterprises, 1990).
Ms. Martin also developed a picture book series idea for Syndee’s Doll Co. and has written a middle-grade travel activity book, Kidding Around San Francisco (John Muir Publications, 1996).
A writer with diverse interests, Ms. Martin has had more than 100 articles appear in publications such as Woman’s Day, California Farmer, the SCBWI Bulletin, and Dog Fancy. She is on staff at Dog World Magazine, where she writes feature pieces and children’s book reviews. Her fiction sales include several short stories and vocabulary exercises.
Ms. Martin is regional advisor of the Northern California chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and program advisor for the Certificate in Children’s Literature program at Mills College in Oakland, California, where she teaches courses on writing and storytelling.
Teri
Martini has published 31 books and more than 100 stories and articles for
children.
Among her 21 books for young people is The Secret Is Out, a collection of true spy stories published by Little, Brown. Ms. Martini is also the author of The New True Book of Indians and The New True Book of Cowboys, which have been widely used as supplemental material in elementary schools.
“Every word has been measured and carefully selected . . . a well-written and thoroughly enjoyable book,” said the West Coast Review of Books in its coverage of Love’s Lost Melody, Thérèse “Teri” Martini’s adult romance novel about the Big Band Era published by Warner Books.
Love’s Lost Melody, along with another romance novel, Dreams to Give, also written by Thérèse Martini, are available now as POD (Print on Demand) books through the iUniverse.com website, or can be ordered in any bookstore as POD books. Soon iUniverse.com will be offering Tune in for Murder, a romance mystery written for Avalon books under Ms. Martini’s pen name, Wendy Martin.
Ms. Martini is a member of the Authors Guild. She is also listed in Gale’s Contemporary Authors (vol. 5-8), Something about the Author (vol. 3), and the International Dictionary of Biography, all of which can be found in the reference section of public libraries.
“My instructor is excellent! She does a fine job evaluating my work. She finds my strengths, gives me direction, inspires and encourages my progress, and provides marketing guidance. She is extremely encouraging. Most of all, she cares.”
—Ida M. Korhonen, Norway, ME
Constance
McAllister’s name appeared on the masthead of Highlights for Children
for 17 years.
During that time she progressed from assistant editor to associate editor and, for the last five years of her stint with Highlights, senior editor. In addition to her work with writers who submitted manuscripts for Highlights’s monthly issues, Ms. McAllister had extensive involvement with its annual fiction contest, which she inaugurated. She has read and screened thousands of entries.
Ms. McAllister’s own work as an author included Highlights’s handbooks on phonics and creative writing for children, and many stories and articles for the magazine.
Constance McAllister is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, the International Reading Association, the American Association of Phonetic Sciences, and the National Writers’ Club.
Pat
McCarthy’s versatility is reflected in the many different types of writing she
has published.
Her work for children includes nature, biography, how-to articles, short stories, and puzzles that have appeared in many children’s magazines, including Cricket, Highlights for Children, Children’s Digest, and Pockets. Her photographs have accompanied many of her articles.
Ms. McCarthy’s first book, Daniel Boone: Frontier Legend, was published by Enslow Publishers in January 2000. It is a young adult biography in the Enslow series, Historical American Biographies. Her additional titles in this series include Thomas Paine: Revolutionary Patriot and Writer (2001), Abigail Adams: First Lady and Patriot (2002), and Henry Ford: Building Cars for Everyone (2002).
Ms. McCarthy is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and attends SCBWI conferences.
“Astonishing”
was the word three-time Newbery Medal winner Gary Paulsen used to describe Kevin McColley’s first novel, The Walls of Pedro García (Delacorte
Press, 1993).
Author Jane Resh Thomas, writing for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, called his second novel, Pecking Order (Harper Collins, 1994), “a marvel, unique in children’s fiction.” Publishers Weekly described it as “timeless.”
David Gale, then senior editor of children’s books at Simon & Schuster, described Mr. McColley’s third novel, Sun Dance (Simon & Schuster, 1995), as “an extraordinary book. Kevin McColley brings a new dimension to the young adult novel.”
A Perfect Game, his fourth novel, has been sold to Simon & Schuster, and his short fiction for young adults has appeared in Infinity Limited.
Mr. McColley’s last two novels, Praying to a Laughing God (Simon & Schuster, 1998) and The Other Side (Simon & Schuster, 2000), were both nominated for the National Book Award. He is currently working on a novel about his dog sledding experiences.
More on Kevin McColley’s books
“Truly, the Institute, with its wealth of teaching methods and materials, and my instructor, have both contributed much toward making this one of the most exciting adventures of my life.”
—Arwilda L. Shoemaker, Millville, PA
In
a review of Sharelle Byars Moranville’s middle-grade novel, Over the River
(Henry Holt, 2002), Publishers Weekly wrote that, “the narrator’s
strong, appealing voice and detailed setting mark this author as one to watch.”
The novel, which received an award from the Friends of American Writers, was
praised in a Booklist starred review as being “beautifully written.”
Ms. Moranville was awarded the first mentorship sponsored by the Iowa Chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and she was privileged to study for a year under the tutelage of prolific writer Dorothy Francis. Her chapter book, The Purple Ribbon, was published in 2003 by Henry Holt.
Her first story for children appeared in Listen Magazine in April 1997, and that story was followed by fiction pieces in magazines including Guideposts for Kids, Pockets, and With.
“The Wreck of Monique’s Antiques,” which appeared in the March/April 1998 issue of Guideposts for Kids, was chosen for inclusion in the Institute’s Best of the Children’s Market.
More on Sharelle Byars Moranville’s books
Paula Morrow has been a children’s literature specialist for more than
twenty-five years.
Some books edited by Paula Morrow:
Snowboarding on Monster Mountain, Mom for Mayor,
Emmett’s Dream, Robert Takes a Stand
In
the late 1980s, Bob Morrow became interested in writing for children, and since
then has published numerous short stories in Cricket
and Spider magazines. In
addition to short stories, Mr. Morrow has published innumerable poems in Ladybug
and Babybug as well.
Mr. Morrow’s first book, Immigration: Blessing or Burden, published by Lerner Publications’ Pro/Con Series for young readers, was selected by the Children’s Book Committee at Bank Street College in New York for their 1999 Best Children’s Books of the Year list.
For the past decade, he has worked as a reporter for a daily city newspaper, where he has contributed literally thousands of feature articles and news stories.
“My instructor invariably picks out the very places I found myself struggling with and gives astute, helpful suggestions for improvement. None of this inhibits my own creative style. She is very positive in her approach and helps me focus on what the assignment is asking for.”
—Arlie R. Grenfell, Billings, MT
Since completing her
first course at the Institute, Lori Mortensen has sold more than 100 stories and
articles. Her work has appeared in Highlights for Children, The Friend,
Boys’ Quest, Hopscotch, Ladybug, and other
publications. Three of her stories were reprinted in Liahona and
translated into forty-one languages.
In addition to stories and articles, Ms. Mortensen has three nonfiction books to her credit. Basilisks (KidHaven Press, 2006), written for middle-graders, will be featured as part of that publisher’s Monster series. Easy reader biographies about Harriet Tubman and Thomas Edison are also forthcoming from Picture Window Books.
Ms. Mortensen has shared her knowledge of the craft of writing by contributing articles to the Institute of Children’s Literature website. One article, “Confessions from the Gene Pool,” won first place in ByLine magazine’s Advice for Beginning Writers contest and enjoyed an encore appearance at the ICL website in December 2003.
More on Lori Mortensen’s books
“This
charming picture book touches on the frustrations and jealousy felt by an
eight-year-old whose older sister seems to rule the world from her throne on
wheels,” wrote The Intermediate Mailbox in a review of Kathleen Muldoon’s
picture book, Princess Pooh (Albert
Whitman & Company, 1989). The story was reprinted in a
picture book anthology, Make
a Splash, in 1993, by Macmillan/McGraw-Hill School Division and released
as a CD in their 2003 Reading/Language Arts program.
As part of her ongoing advocacy for persons with disabilities, Ms. Muldoon sometimes introduces characters with disabilities into her children’s fiction, as she did in her historical fiction book, Island of Hope (Perfection Learning Corporation, 2002), and in her contemporary novel for middle-graders, Checkmate! (PLC, 2004).
Also a staunch proponent of literacy programs, Ms. Muldoon enjoys her association with PLC and focuses on writing fiction and nonfiction chapter books for children who have difficulty reading at grade level. Her nonfiction book, Presidential Pet Tails (PLC, 2002), was particularly well received at schools and libraries.
She plans to present school programs related to her five-book series on the orphan train riders (PLC, 2003), and she is currently working on a nonfiction series about shipwrecks.
Ms. Muldoon’s short stories and articles have also appeared in such magazines as Hopscotch, Cricket, My Friend, AppleSeeds, Cobblestone, and Faces, as well as in anthologies such as Chicken Soup for the Pre-Teen Soul and Chocolate for a Teen’s Heart. Two of her picture book manuscripts have placed in the top 10 in the Writer’s Digest International Writing Competition.
More on Kathleen Muldoon’s books
Patricia
D. Netzley is the author of nearly 40 books for children, young adults, and
adults.
Her first children’s book, The Assassination of John F. Kennedy (Macmillan, 1994), for middle-grade students, was named a “Top Pick” by the American Library Association and recommended for adult literacy programs throughout the United States.
Her nonfiction book, The Curse of King Tut (Lucent Books, 2000), written for teens but also enjoyed by adults, was featured on the SciFi Channel’s television show In Search Of, and her writings on controversial subjects—such as ESP, UFOs, the death penalty, gun control, censorship, and evolution—have been widely praised for their balanced approach.
Other books by Patricia Netzley include Thunderstorms (Kidhaven Press, 2003), Volcanoes (Kidhaven Press, 2003), and Pirates (Kidhaven Press, 2003), for children; and Buddhism (Lucent Books, 2002), ESP (Lucent Books, 2001), Haunted Houses (Lucent Books, 2000), Issues in Crime (Lucent Books, 2000), and Life on an Everest Expedition (Lucent Books, 2001), for teens.
Her books for teens and adults include Encyclopedia of the Civil War (Greenhaven Press, 2003), Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt (Greenhaven Press, 2003), Encyclopedia of Movie Special Effects (Checkmark Books, 2001, paperback; Oryz Press, 2000, hardback), and Encyclopedia of Women’s Travel and Exploration (Oryx Press, 2001).
More on Patricia Netzley’s books
Kristin Wolden Nitz
“Unlike
many how-to-play sports books for children, this one is written in a style kids
can understand. . . .” said Children’s Literature about Kristin
Wolden Nitz’s first book of nonfiction, Fundamental Softball
(Lerner Publications, 1997).
To write the book, Ms. Nitz studied manuals, observed high school practices, attended games, and interviewed players, coaches, and officials in order to make her description of the history, strategy, and techniques of softball as clear and informative as possible.
Ms. Nitz used similar techniques to write two more books of nonfiction, Play-by-Play Track and Play-by-Play Field Events, both published by Lerner Publications in 2004.
Such attention to detail also helped her bring the story of a girl playing soccer on an Italian boys’ team to life in her first novel, Defending Irene (Peachtree, 2004).
Her short stories and articles have appeared in Highlights for Children, Cricket, Hopscotch, and Soccer Jr. Reprint rights of some of her work have been sold to SIRS and Harcourt Educational Measurement.
Ms. Nitz serves on the local board of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators’ Missouri region, where she helps plan events, recruits speakers, gives presentations, and writes a column for the quarterly newsletter, MO Scribbles.
More on Kristin Wolden Nitz’s books
“My instructor has…given encouragement and kept me writing. The results of her teaching were almost immediate. I won first place in a short story contest in a local newspaper. The piece was the first thing I’d ever sent out….Cleaning up my writing has even helped me in my day job.”
—Tree Heckler, Brewer, ME
“Often
witty and even more often provocative” is how Publishers Weekly
described Rebecca O’Connell’s young adult novel, Myrtle of Willendorf
(Front Street, 2000). Horn Book called it “by turns
funny and poignant,” and it was selected for inclusion in the New York Public
Library’s Books for the Teen Age.
Four Sides, Eight Nights: A New Spin on Hanukkah (Roaring Brook Press, 2005), a nonfiction book for the middle grades (written by Ms. O’Connell using her maiden name, Rebecca Tova Ben-Zvi), was described as delivering “intriguing information and a little fun” by Booklist.
Ms. O’Connell’s picture book, The Baby Goes Beep (Roaring Brook, 2003), was named a Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book.
Ms. O’Connell has been a guest speaker for children’s literature classes at Chatham College and the University of Pittsburgh. She has also led writing and children’s literature workshops at the Western Pennsylvania Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators’ (SCBWI) regional conference, the Penn State Children’s Literature Matters conference, and the Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLA) annual convention. She is a member of both SCBWI and PaLA.
More on Rebecca O’Connell’s books
Katherine Pebley O’Neal
Katherine
Pebley O’Neal knows funny.
In 2003 Simon & Schuster introduced the Stink Squad, O’Neal’s series of four middle-grade adventures that was praised by School Library Journal as “a lighthearted and droll new mystery and detective series.”
The series includes The Fume in the Tomb (2004), The Reek from Outer Space (2003), The African Sniffari (2003), and The Malodorous Mess (2003), the last of which won first place in the children’s fiction category at the Pikes Peak Writers Conference. With the writing of this series, O’Neal realized how much she loved to write stories that would make kids laugh. A new set of four (funny!) picture books is forthcoming from HarperCollins/Zonderkidz in 2007.
A former student of the Institute, Ms. O’Neal has also published stories and articles in more than fifteen magazines for young people, including Spider, Highlights for Children, Hopscotch, Boys’ Quest, Guideposts for Kids, and My Friend.
More on Katherine Pebley O’Neal’s books
Karen
Orfitelli is an editor for McGraw-Hill Publishers where she creates and edits
educational materials for children and teachers. In addition, her articles have
been published in more than 100 publications.
Ms. Orfitelli’s first article was published in 1992. That acceptance was followed by nearly 300 more in magazines such as Focus on the Family, Breakaway, Brio, Teen, Writer’s Digest, The Plain Truth, Clarity, Vietnam, and Guideposts. She also spent several years reviewing children’s books for The Christian Library Journal and Librarian’s World.
Ms. Orfitelli has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Guideposts Writers Workshop Contest (1994). She was the first place winner in the Great New England Coast Essay (1996).
When she is not at her desk, Ms. Orfitelli teaches workshops at writers’ conferences, teachers’ conventions, and for regional writing groups.
“Now, thanks to that big first step, this soon-to-be-published new writer is forever grateful to you and her instructor. She provided the professional guidance needed for me to share my stories, and offered only honest, constructive criticism—something I was not accustomed to.”
—Christine D. Ballentine, Attica, MI
Glenda
Palmer’s first picture books were published in 1993—eight of them in one
year. Chariot published the four-book Almost
On My Own series and Tyndale, four Holiday Board Books.
Ms. Palmer’s next four books were also sold as a series. My Bible Storybook of ABC’s, My Noah’s Ark Book of Colors, My Adam and Eve Book of Opposites, and My Baby Jesus Book of Numbers were published in 1995 by Concordia House Publishing. In 2000 this series was combined into one book and reprinted by Inspiration Press.
In 1998, Glenda Palmer’s story, “Missy and Me,” was published in the best-selling book, Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul.
A graduate of San Diego State College with a bachelor’s degree in English, Glenda Palmer was honored as Writer of the Year by the San Diego Christian Writers’ Guild in 1990 and 1992. She hosts critique groups, and is co-founder of The Write Touch. She has also taught at numerous writers’ conferences in California.
Book
Links says of Barbara Keevil Parker’s North American Wolves (Carolrhoda
Books, 1998):
“Upper-primary and middle-grade readers will be captivated by this book’s
first chapter, ‘The Hunt.’ Parker’s vivid description draws the reader
into the middle of a wolf hunt, creating an escalating tension that doesn’t
abate until the wolves begin their meal.”
With an emphasis on nonfiction, Barbara Keevil Parker’s credits also include Susan B. Anthony: Daring to Vote (Millbrook Press, 1998), The Good Samaritan, Christian Celebrations, The Lord is My Shepherd (Pockets of Learning, 1998), and Healthcare Education: A Guide to Staff Development (Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1986).
Her book on Healthcare Education received two awards from professional organizations. Her articles have appeared in adult journals as well as children’s magazines including Your Big Backyard, Boys’ Quest, AIM, and Cogniz.
More on Barbara Keevil Parker’s books
An
author and award-winning teacher, Michelle Parker-Rock has worked with writers
and educators for most of her career. She is the author of two nonfiction books
for young adults, R. L. Stine: Creator of Creepy and Spooky Stories (Enslow,
2005) and Diwali (Enslow, 2004), as well as the creator of Authors Kids
Love, a new biography series from Enslow. In addition, Ms. Parker-Rock is a
contributing writer for the SCBWI Bulletin, a bimonthly publication of
the Society of Children’s
Book Writers and Illustrators.
As an educator, Ms. Parker-Rock is a recipient of the New Jersey Governor’s Teacher Recognition Award. She has led several writing workshops and presented at numerous national, state, and regional conferences, including the International Reading Association, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, Newspapers in Education Conference, and others. She is currently a regional advisor in Arizona for SCBWI.
More on Michelle Parker-Rock’s books
“My instructor is outstanding! This comes from a journalism grad who has been exposed to many professors. She takes her time to truly read and absorb my work, leaving me with substantial comments and advice. Her insight and ability to craft her comments have created a bond between us.”
—Scott Mortimore, Sparks, NV
Patricia
Pfitsch sold three of the assignments she wrote as a student at the Institute. One
of the pieces,
“Soldier of Peace”
(November, 1989), won Highlights for
Children’s Outstanding Author Award.
Since then she has sold numerous stories and articles to Highlights, including “Stormy Waters,” which won the 1994 Highlights fiction contest; “Inside Looking Out” (May, 1996), which received another Outstanding Author Award; and “Piano Man” (November, 1993), anthologized in the Institute’s Success Stories for the ’90s.
She has also been published in Wee Wisdom (“The Mermaid,” March, 1988), Sunshine Magazine (“Skunks,” June, 1991), and Cricket (“Messages from the Past,” May, 1996), and is a regular contributor to Children’s Writer newsletter.
In 1997, Simon & Schuster released Keeper of the Light, her first historical novel for middle graders. “An impressive debut,” said Publishers Weekly. “Well-researched . . . tension filled.” It received the First Place Juvenile Award from Friends of American Writers, and was an American Booksellers Pick of the List.
In 1998 her second historical novel, The Deeper Song, was published, also by Simon & Schuster. School Library Journal deemed it “original and exciting.” Another novel, Riding the Flume (S&S, 2002), was called a “winner” by Booklist.
“I enrolled in the Institute, and it’s one of the best decisions I ever made. Now, teaching for the Institute is a dream come true. By helping others realize their dreams, I get to give back a little of the guidance I received.”
More on Patricia Pfitsch’s books
Anola Pickett
When
Anola Pickett wrote Old Enough for Magic (HarperCollins, 1989) for
beginning readers, she combined her love of humor with a common problem of
younger children—bossy older siblings.
The book enjoyed two printings and was a Troll Book Club selection. It was included in Parents’ Magazine’s Best Books for Children, and won favorable reviews in Kirkus, ALA Book List, and the Kansas City Star Book Review.
In addition, Ms. Pickett has written more than 50 stories and articles that have appeared in more than 30 publications for both children and adults, including Children’s Digest, The Friend, Family Journal, Teacher’s Slate, Liguorian Magazine, Kansas City Parent, Christian Life, and Above and Beyond Magazine. Her stories have appeared in 17 issues of Storydog, Inc.’s online story site for children.
Ms. Pickett has taught at all levels, from preschool through college. Her nonfiction book for teachers, Multiple Intelligences and Positive Life Habits (Corwin Press, 2001), reflects her concern for teaching that reaches all children.
Ms. Pickett is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She attends their regional conferences, belongs to a local SCBWI critique group, and takes part in an annual writing retreat.
Award-winning
author Shirley Raye Redmond has 10 books and more than 400 articles, short
stories, and essays to her credit.
Patriots in Petticoats: Heroines of the American Revolution (Random House, 2004), part of the Landmark Books series for young readers, was named one of the best children’s books of 2005 by Bank Street College of Education, and her early reader, Pigeon Hero! (Simon & Schuster, 2004), received an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award.
Ms. Redmond’s other books include The Alamo! (Simon & Schuster, 2004); The Dog That Dug for Dinosaurs (Aladdin, 2004); Tentacles! Tales of the Giant Squid (Random House, 2003); and Lewis & Clark: A Prairie Dog for the President (Random House, 2003). Her newest children’s title, Lost Little Puffin, is forthcoming from Simon & Schuster.
Ms. Redmond has also sold more than 400 magazine articles, stories, and essays to a wide variety of publications, including Highlights for Children, Guideposts for Kids, Seventeen, Parenting, Woman’s Day, True West, and Cosmopolitan.
More on Shirley Raye Redmond’s books
Jennifer
Reed sold her first children’s
article to Skipping Stones magazine, and the following year she signed on
with Crinkles as a regular contributor.
Since then, she has published more than 100 stories and articles in children’s magazines including Highlights, Boys’ Life, Boys’ Quest, Hopscotch, Story Friends, Holiday and Seasonal Celebrations, Crinkles, and many more magazines and websites.
Ms. Reed has also published eleven nonfiction books, including several biographies such as Elizabeth Bloomer (Kidhaven Press, 2006), Paula Danziger (Enslow, 2006), Leonardo Da Vinci, Genius of Art and Science (Enslow, 2005), and The Royal Saudi Family (Chelsea House, 2002). Her book, The AIDS Epidemic (Enslow, 2005), was named a Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People in 2006.
Fiction titles include her recently published picture book, The Falling Flowers (Shen’s Books, 2005) and Emma’s Masterpiece (StoryPlus).
As the editor of Wee Ones children’s magazine, Ms. Reed’s mission is to encourage families to grow together by reading together—online.
“I thoroughly enjoy working with my instructor. I believe these assignments and his evaluation are already equal to several semesters of college classes. He gives a personal touch to each assignment with good suggestions, noting the good parts as well as the weaker points. I feel he is personally involved with my work.”
—Vera L. Long, Stillwater, OK
Author
Gillian Richardson has written 12 books and 25 stories for young readers.
Several of her titles have received honors, including the short chapter book,
A Friend for Mr. Granville (Hodgepog Books, 1997), “highly recommended” by
the Canadian Book Review Annual; and her juvenile novel One Chance to
Win (Ragweed, 1986), both of which received the Canadian Children’s Book
Centre’s “Our Choice” Award. Her nonfiction book, Saskatchewan (Lerner,
1995), made the Year’s Best List in 1996 in Resource Links, a review
publication for teacher/librarians.
Ms. Richardson’s fiction credits include picture books Ants Belong Outside (2006), Ragdoll Rescue (2006), and Too Ba-a-d! (2005), all part of a Scholastic Canada primary language arts program; a mystery/fantasy, Oliver Buggins, Investigator? (Electric Ebook, 2001), a finalist in the Readers’ Favorite e-book category of the 2002 Independent e-book Awards; and The Migration of Robyn Birchwood (Nimbus, 1991), a three-time nominee for Young Readers’ Choice Awards by the Saskatchewan Reading Council.
In addition to books, Ms. Richardson’s short stories have appeared in magazines such as Cricket, KNOW, OWL, WILD, Story Friends, and Aquila.
More on Gillian Richardson’s books
Chickadee
magazine, which won a Parent’s Choice Gold Seal Award plus eight EDPRESS
Awards during Catherine Ripley’s time as Editor (1990-1992), nourished Ms.
Ripley’s
talent for making science and nature topics approachable for young readers.
Since 1998, her work has appeared in Ask, Click, OWL, and Yes Mag. “Nihao from China” (Chickadee, November 2000) secured Ms. Ripley another EDPRESS award, this time as a writer.
In 1985, Ms. Ripley’s first book, Night and Day (OWL/Golden Press), was published. Since then she has written eight other books for young children: The Polka Dot Door Activity Book (Stoddart, 1987), Two Dozen Dinosaurs (OWL Books, 1991), and the Question and Answer Storybook series (6 titles, OWL Books, 1995-1998). In 2001, all six titles were published together under the title Why? The Best Ever Question and Answer Book about Nature, Science, and the World around You (Maple Tree Press).
During her Chickadee years, Ms. Ripley edited eight other books, including the best-selling title The Bug Book and Bottle (Somerville House/Workman, 1986), as well as compiled and edited activity books for OWL that were used in The Anti-Boredom Book (OWL, 2000), co-authored with Marilyn Baillie.
More on Catherine Ripley’s books
Ms.
Ritchie has written 19 books for children, spanning age groups from preschool to
young adult.
Two of her eight junior historical novels were Junior Literary Guild selections, and three won awards. The Council for Wisconsin Writers named Night Coach to Paris (Norton) as Best Juvenile Book. Ice Falcon (Norton) and Secret Beyond the Mountains (Dutton) both received honorable mentions for the Clara Ingram Judson Memorial Award. Two contemporary junior novels, Bicycles North! (Western) and The Silver Seven (Western) were selected for the Children’s Reading Round Table.
Ms. Ritchie has also adapted two folk tales for preschoolers published by Sight & Sound/Golden Books in 1991, and six of her nonfiction books written at a first-grade level were published by Gareth Stevens as part of a series titled The Wonders of Animals.
“This course has made my dreams come true. It was easy to follow, yet I found each lesson challenging. I sold my first article before I finished the course. I have had 17 articles and short stories published in seven publications so far. Thank you for the opportunity to take this course. It has changed my life.”
—Mary Dobbs, Clinton, MD
From
reporter/interviewer/columnist for a small-town newspaper, Nancy Rockwell went
on to edit two industrial magazines before deciding she was more interested in
children’s books. She held editorial posts at W. W. Norton; Lothrop, Lee &
Shepard; Grosset & Dunlap; and Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
While at Grosset & Dunlap, Ms. Rockwell developed Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, the Dana Girls, and the Bobbsey Twins book series. One of her important jobs at Harcourt was to help maintain its “publisher’s lists” as a well-balanced juvenile line.
In addition to her editorial work, she wrote The Nancy Drew Code Book and The Hardy Boys Code Book. Two of the books she edited for Harcourt, The Kidnapping of Christina Lattimore and The Seance, both by Joan Lowery Nixon, won Edgars from the Mystery Writers of America.
More on Nancy Rockwell’s books
When
Ana María Rodríguez made the decision to write for children professionally,
she enrolled at the Institute of Children’s Literature, and in 1995, she
graduated from
Writing
for Children and Teenagers.
Her choice to write for children was validated with the success of her article, “The Kids Who Fought Smallpox,” published in Highlights for Children (May 2000) and written under her pseudonym, Mariana Relós. It earned the Highlights History Feature of the Year Award.
Ms. Rodríguez has published 50 articles in children’s magazines including Yes Mag, SuperScience, Current Health 1, and Highlights for Children. Three of her articles have been reprinted in SIRS Discoverer databases for schools, and one in First-Time Authors, an anthology published by the Institute of Children’s Literature.
Ms. Rodríguez’s work has also appeared in the adult magazines Petersen’s Hunting, Just Labs, and Equus. Ms. Rodríguez is the author of Fires (Lucent Books, 2003) for middle-grade readers, and the editor of Fires (Greenhaven Press, 2004), an anthology for high school readers.
Ms. Rodríguez is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
More on Ana María Rodríguez’s books
“Text
and pictures blend seamlessly in this outstanding offering—no mean feat, as
Roemer’s rhymes are shaped to evoke seasonal sights. . . . A strong debut for
Roemer,”
said the starred Kirkus
review of Come To My Party and Other Shape Poems
(Henry Holt, 2004). Heidi Roemer has also sold more than 200 articles, stories, and poems to Ladybug, Spider, Cricket, Highlights, Turtle, Boys’ Quest, Clubhouse, Scholastic Storyworks, and other popular children’s magazines.
Ms. Roemer’s work has been published in anthologies such as Phonics Through Poetry (Addison Wesley, 1997) and The Big Book of Holiday and Seasonal Celebrations (Teaching & Learning Company, 2002). Well-known poet/anthologist Lee Bennett Hopkins has included Ms. Roemer’s poems in several of his collections. Scott Foresman’s Read Aloud Anthology, Grade 1 (2005) will also include Ms. Roemer’s poetry. Her poetry entry in the SmartWriters 2004 contest won first prize.
More on Heidi Bee Roemer’s books
“I’m always surprised when my instructor finds the good things in my stories. She said she would be tough and point out my weak points. She does, but is more gentle than I expected. I like her clear, easy-to-grasp remarks and suggestions. I think my writing is steadily improving thanks to her.”
—Barbara Hennings, Gillette, WY
After
12 years at HarperCollins, Stephen Roos discovered that he wanted to write
children’s books. My Horrible Secret, winner of the Charlie May
Simon Medallion, was published in 1983, and
24 more books have followed.
Publishers Weekly noted his “sharp, distinctive wit” in its review of Twelve-Year-Old Vows Revenge (After Being Dumped by Extraterrestrial on First Date).
The Horn Book acclaimed The Fair-Weather Friends as “a funny, poignant story, a perfect vacation book,” and called My Favorite Ghost “rollicking.”
The Voice of Youth Advocates described You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone, Mr. Roos’s novel about teenage alcoholism, as “a hard one to keep on the shelves....” And the Horn Book said Confessions of a Wayward Preppie was “a fascinating consideration of responsibility.”
School Library Journal described The Gypsies Never Came (Simon & Schuster, 2001), as “a novel written in a lean and propulsive style that draws the reader in.”
Rhea
Ross made her first sale several weeks after enrolling at the Institute.
As a student, she turned most of her course assignments into sales to Wee Wisdom, Alive!, Visions, The Young Crusader, and others. She sold two adult Westerns—as yet unpublished—then turned to the confession market and sold to Modern Romances and Intimate Story.
In 1988, Houghton Mifflin published Ms. Ross’s first coming-of-age novel, The Bet’s On, Lizzie Bingman! to excellent reviews.
Hillbilly Choir (Houghton Mifflin), her second teenage novel, was set in her native Ozarks during the depression years. It won praise from the Horn Book, Book Report, and School Library Journal.
Ms. Ross has three new books in progress. She also teaches creative writing at the college level and speaks in schools throughout Missouri to would-be writers.
“An
exciting, suspenseful tale,”
wrote the School Library Journal
in reviewing Jill Rubalcaba’s first book, Uncegila’s Seventh Spot
(Clarion, 1995).
Her next three middle-grade novels, St. Vitus Dance, A Place in the Sun, and The Wadjet Eye, were also published by Clarion.
Cricket bought Ms. Rubalcaba’s first fictional piece, which was reprinted in a children’s textbook, and Pioneer purchased her first nonfiction piece. “I like having something going in both genres,” she says. “That way, if I get stuck on one I can switch; the two don’t intrude on one another.”
Since her first sale, Ms. Rubalcaba continues to write for magazines. She is a graduate of the University of Vermont and did graduate work in mathematics, writing, and business.
More on Jill Rubalcaba’s books
“My instructor’s comments were heartwarming, sincere and encouraging. Her suggestions were specific and inspiring. She definitely gave me the direction I needed. What an enjoyable, rich experience!”
—Perla Aguirre, Plant City, FL
Elementary
school librarian, grade school teacher, and mother to six children, Mary Ryan
has a deep well to draw from.
Her career in childrenen’s literature began 20 years ago with stories in Cobblestone, Humpty Dumpty’s Magazine, Young American, and a cover story for Boys’ Life. Her second cover story for Boys’ Life appeared in 1999.
Since then she has written for the Niagara Gazette, Tonawanda News, and Buffalo News, as well as GRIT, the Wall Street Journal, Capper’s Weekly, New York Alive, Catholic Digest, and Writer’s Digest.
In 1987, Little, Brown and Co. published Frankie’s Run, Ms. Ryan’s first book. It was a Junior Literary Guild selection and was later published by Avon in paperback, and by English and German publishers.
It was followed by Who Says I Can’t? (Little, Brown, 1988; Avon, 1990); The Voice from the Mendelsohn’s Maple (Little, Brown, 1990; Avon, 1992), a Junior Literary Guild selection; My Friend O’Connell (Avon, 1991); and Ghosts, Gadgets and Great Ideas (Avon, 1993).
Her book, Me Two (Little Brown, 1990), a Junior Library Guild selection, was made into a Disney Channel original movie, The Other Me, in 2000.
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