Tuesday Kidlit Trivia for September 23, 2025

 This British author hoped to become an actress and graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London but found she couldn't make enough to support herself. She turned to journalism and became the first female reporter on British television. Her next career was as a teacher on a kibbutz in Israel. In 1981 she wrote the first in a series of books about a boy and a plastic toy that comes to life. She went on to write books for adults and plays for television, radio and stage, sometimes reading the radio parts herself, finally satisfying her dream to be an actress. This is Lynne Reid Banks, author of The Indian in the Cupboard.

Tuesday Kidlit Trivia for September 9, 2025

 This British author taught at Oxford and Cambridge and wrote more than 30 books. His spiritual journey took him from his Anglican roots to atheism and back to Christianity before 1950 when he wrote the first book in his classic series about a journey taken by four English children, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy, into another world. 40 years later, in 1990, the book was banned in Maryland for its "graphic violence, mysticism and gore." When Jeb Bush picked it as a required reading book in Florida schools, it was deemed "unConsitutional" by the Americans for Separation of Church and State because of its religious symbolism. Despite controversy, the series has sold millions of copies and remains a favorite of children today. This is C.S. Lewis, his series is the Chronicles of Narnia and the first book is The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.

What will my 75th year bring?

   It was my birthday September 1st, so instead of author trivia this week I'm reflecting on what a year it's been. Of course, every year since triple negative breast cancer in 2012 has been a gift! But this year, I got married to my love of 7 years, Jim Hiller, had a fabulous visit with the kids and grandkids this summer, went to two family weddings, I signed two more book contracts for my series with Familius publishing, and had a poem in High Five, the Highlights magazine for preschoolers. And I learned about it while I was at the Highlights retreat center in Pennsylvania, my happy place! 

    Another amazing part of this year was attending the Highlights workshop on non-fiction. I wrote a non-fic manuscript this year, "Toys Ahoy," and got a very encouraging rejection from agent Miranda Paul. Two days later I saw that there was a Highlights workshop featuring Miranda Paul! I decided to go, brought my story that I'd rewritten a bit, and she feels it will sell, but she is not taking on new clients now. Jim was so supportive of my trip to Highlights--truly my happy place, although a pain to get to now that they have stopped offering transportation to and from the airport. Anyway, I'm confidently sending out my story to agents and publishers.

 So, as I start my 75th year, I'm happily married, overweight but basically healthy, all my kids love me (so many of my friends have kids that don't speak to them), and I have a book coming out in June of 2026 and two more in 2018!  And Jim got us tickets to see Paul McCartney in October! Last year we were in Greece in early September and floating in the turquoise sea off an island. This year we took the inflatable raft to Harvey Gap! It was muddy--messy but fun--just like life! 

Tuesday Kidlit Trivia for August 26, 2025

 In honor of National Dog Day this week, I'm featuring a New Jersey author and dog breeder who wrote about his incredibly brave and intelligent male canine companion. In his most famous book he tells about his 80-pound dog killing poisonous snakes, catching robbers, and saving children. His series about his pet was so popular that he was making $100,000 a year in the 1920's. This is Albert Payson Terhune, 1872-1942, and his most famous book is the first in the series, Lad, A Dog.

Tuesday Kidlit Trivia for August 19, 2925

 This Alabama author's books are well-researched and just gross enough to get middle graders excited about science! They include "Something Rotten: a Fresh Look at Roadkill," "Who gives a Poop? Surprising Science from One End to the Other," and "SICK! The Twists and Turns Behind Animal Germs." I was fortunate to meet her at the Highlights Non-Fiction Nature Retreat last week, where she led a small group of us out at night to watch for Perseid meteors and pointed out constellations. And there were lightning bugs, which I hadn't seen since I was a little girl in Massachusetts! Find her name in my recent blog posts about my time at Highlights.

Highlights is Magical continued

 The classes at Highlights are top notch, and they're also known for chef Amanda's fabulous food! Everything is locally sourced and healthy, but also delicious. Best bratwurst I've ever had, amazing mashed potatoes made with Boursin, and carrot cake with caramel sauce in the middle!

                                                              

  When the time came to meet one-on-one with Miranda Paul, I was so hopeful that she would like the changes I'd made to my story TOYS AHOY! It's about a spill of 28,800 plastic tub toys into the Pacific, and what it taught the world about plastic traveling from one ocean to another and lasting for years.  And she did! She didn't have any major suggestions and said she thought it would sell. She suggested submitting it to Charlesbridge, so I did, and now I'll submit it confidently to other agents and publishers. Thanks, Miranda!

                                                                                     

One of the absolute best things about Highlights is meeting other writers and making dear friends so quickly. I shared a ride from Newark airport to the campus with Emily Starr, and I so hope her family can come to visit us in Colorado someday! She's talented, smart, generous, fun and wonderful! And she introduced me to geoducks! 😮Thank you, Highlights, you never disappoint.

                                                                                    

Highlights is Magical

 I recently spent four days at the Highlights Barn in the Pennsylvania woods, and it was heavenly. I hadn't been in years, and I treated myself since I've signed three picture book contracts. So many coincidences--On June 13 (my wedding day) I got a letter from agent Miranda Paul saying she was really intrigued by my non-fiction story Toys Ahoy, and that she would look at it again if I revised. Two days later, I got an email that there was an opening in the non-fiction workshop in August--with Miranda Paul!  So I signed up. Would Miranda like my revisions? 

  The first picture book, due out next summer, is Nighty Night, Dinos,. Guess what I saw at O'Hare?

And when I got to my room at the lodge, all the paintings were of dinosaurs!

Another faculty member was award-winning science writer Heather Montgomery.  She took a few of us outside one night to lay on blankets and watch for meteors while she pointed out the many constellations that were visible. And I saw an amazing Perseid meteor shoot across the sky! I had tried so many times to see meteors at home but our skies just aren't dark enough.

  The next day, while I was working outside, I got an e-mail from my son that the High Five magazine had arrived for 3 year-old Oliver, and that I had a poem in it!