My story is not unlike many who write books for young readers. I came to this profession both from my experience as a parent and as a teacher. As a parent, I spent many nights reading to my daughters when they were young. We also looked forward to our weekly trip to the public library and for our book-of-the-month club selections to arrive in the mail.My experience as a second grade teacher was also invaluable. I read everyday to my second grade students, it was our after-lunch ritual. I can still remember the look in my students eyes when I read a story that they could really connect with. Their responses taught me that literature--good literature--is an important part of growing up.
Their
responses also taught me to look more closely at what authors did. As I started
to analyze each author's work, I started to dream of being an author
myself. So, I started writing my ideas down, and after a few false
starts, I sold my first book, Night Is Coming, to Dutton Children's Books in 1988. It was the start of a
new, but equally satisfying career.
Although,
ultimately,
I quit teaching elementary school, I didn't stop
teaching altogether. I went back to school and earned a doctorate in
elementary
school curriculum, with an emphasis in reading and language arts. Upon
graduation, I accepted a faculty position at National-Louis University
in Chicago.
I continue to teach at National, working with teachers in a
graduate program. But I haven't given up working with young students
either. As a published author and storyteller, I travel the country
talking about my writing and publishing experiences. I guess you could
say, the world is my classroom now.
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If you're wondering about the photos of me on my website, they come from a recent trip to the Milwaukee Art Museum. I was up there for the Wisconsin State Reading Association's annual convention. I gave a talk on Ruth Culham's 6+1 Trait Writing, and then spent the afternoon at the museum. It was a beautiful day.
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