ICL - Instructors 3

Award-winning author Joyce Hansen has been writing and publishing books since 1980. Her first book, The Gift-Giver (Clarion Books, 1980), is still in print 28 years after publication. Since then she has published fourteen other books.

Ms. Hansen’s books have received a number of awards and recognition over the years. She has won four Coretta Scott King Honor Awards, including one for her nonfiction title, Breaking Ground, Breaking Silence: The Story of New York’s African Burial Ground (Holt, 1998). Which Way Freedom? (Walker, 1986) and Out From This Place (Walker, 1988) were chosen as ALA Notable Books, and eight of her titles, including Between Two Fires (Franklin Watts, 1993) and I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly (Scholastic, 1997), were Notable Children’s Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies.

Ms. Hansen also received a Parents’ Choice Award for Yellow Bird and Me (Clarion Books, 1986) and a National Parenting Publication Gold Award for Women of Hope (Scholastic, 1998). In 2005 her nonfiction title, African Princess (Hyperion, 2004), was one of Bank Street College of Education’s Best Children’s Books of the Year.

Monica A. Harris

The author of 8 books and more than 120 magazine pieces, Monica A. Harris has more than a decade of experience in writing for children.

In a starred review of Ms. Harris’s pun-filled picture book, Wake the Dead (Walker & Company, 2004), Publishers Weekly remarked, “[Harris’s] comedy leaves all souls grateful.” School Library Journal called it “an amusing story packed with bone-dry, fiendishly witty wordplays… readers will die laughing any time of year,” and Kirkus agreed, calling it a “dead cinch for storytime.” Ms. Harris’s clever tale attracted more than starred reviews; Wake the Dead was also nominated for the Quills Literary Award and selected for Children’s Book of the Month Club.

A former science instructor, Ms. Harris is an exceptionally skilled science writer. Her nonfiction titles include My First Book of Animals (Publications International, 2004); and five books in Heinemann Library’s Bug Books series, Ticks (2004), Walking Sticks (2004), Tarantulas (2004), Black Widow Spider (2004), and Paper Wasps (2004).

She has also contributed educational material, inspirational and creative writing pieces, poetry, and puzzles to Highlights, Think and Discover, and other outlets.

Troon Harrison

Troon Harrison writes picture books, young adult novels, and junior chapter books. Her writing covers a range of genres, from historical fiction to fantasy.

Her picture books, Aaron’s Awful Allergies (Kids Can, 1996) and The Memory Horse (Tundra, 1999), were awarded Outstanding by the Parent’s Council. The Memory Horse was also named an Honor Title at the Storytelling World Awards and an Honor Book by the Society of School Librarians International.

The Dream Collector (Kids Can, 1999) was a finalist in the Independent Publisher Book Awards. Ms. Harrison’s young adult novel, A Bushel of Light (Stoddart, 2000), was nominated for the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction.

Other recent books by Ms. Harrison include Tales of Terre, Book I: The Separated (Brown Barn Books, 2006); Eye of the Wolf (Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 2004); and Poetry and Potatoes (Chrysalis Books, 2003).

“My instructor is supportive and inspiring. She encourages me and focuses on my writing strengths. She has very good suggestions about targeting and marketing my work and always projects a very positive tone in our correspondence. She’s a great coach!”

Connie Heckert

Ms. Heckert has published more than 400 newspaper and magazine pieces in such markets as the Chicago Daily News, the Des Moines Register, Grit, JD Journal, and Modern Woodmen.

Her writing credits also include two picture books for children: Dribbles (Clarion, 1993) and Miss Rochelle and the Lost Bell (Quest Publishing, 1985).

Dribbles was selected as one of the top 100 books published for children in 1993 by the Bureau of Education and Research. “The story works nicely as a way to explain death to a child who has or will soon experience the loss of a loved one,” said the Long Beach, CA, Press-Telegram.

She is also the author of two books for teens and seven for adults; two titles are co-authored. Roots and Recipes: Six Generations of Heartland Cookery (Pelican Publishing, 1995) is both Depression-era history and recipes.

In 1997, the Women’s Encouragement Board presented her with the Leader Award/Julie Jensen McDonald Journalism Award. Ms. Heckert is a Regional Advisor for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators in Iowa, and she has been recognized for outstanding service to her SCBWI-Iowa region.

Ms. Heckert teaches adult education classes on writing for children, and she also teaches part-time at the college level.

Renee Heiss

Renee Heiss has demonstrated that it is possible to build a successful writing career in only a few years.

Since graduating from the Institute of Children’s Literature in 2000, Ms. Heiss has written hundreds of magazine articles and short stories. Her article, “Kathman Do’s and Don’ts” (Crinkles, July/August 2003), received an honorable mention in the 2003 Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators’ Magazine Merit Competition.

Many of her articles, such as “Family Album Project,” in the January 2002 issue of Challenge, and “This Keyboard Fits Like a Glove,” in the May 2004 issue of Highlights for Children, help children understand that learning can be fun.

Ms. Heiss also has two nonfiction books to her credit, Helping Kids Help (Zephyr Press, 2007), and Feng Shui for the Classroom: 101 Easy-to-use Ideas (Zephyr Press, 2004), in which she combines her knowledge of children and interior design. “What ‘Imagineers’ created for Disneyland, Renee Heiss has done for educators,” begins Dr. Prent Klag’s foreword to the book, which helps educators to design a fun learning environment.

Ms. Heiss is also a contributing writer for Crinkles, which has published more than 30 of her nonfiction articles.

Leslie Helakoski

Leslie Helakoski is an award-winning picture book author whose rollicking read-alouds have won critical acclaim.

Kirkus gave starred reviews to Big Chickens (Dutton, 2006) and Big Chickens Fly the Coop (Dutton, 2008), calling Fly the Coop “ . . . a crowd pleaser that begs to be read aloud and will certainly set off gales of giggles.” Big Chickens was named a Michigan Reads! book as part of Michigan’s statewide program to promote early literacy, and it was also selected by young readers as the 2008 winner for the Great Lakes, Great Book Award in the picture book category. The Smushy Bus (Millbrook Press, 2001) was nominated for two state book awards and was called “ . . . a seamlessly integrated and clearly stated math problem with an outrageously creative solution” by School Library Journal.

Her newest book, Woolbur (HarperCollins, 2008), was a Book Sense Children’s Pick, and School Library Journal raved, “Helakoski’s delightful tale of independence with surprising twists in text full of repetitive language is proof that the barnyard hoot, Big Chickens, was no fluke. Hopefully, she’ll turn out a whole flock as fun as this.”

“I cannot say enough positive things about my instructor. When I began this course, my confidence in my own ability was shaky at best. Through her gentle coaxing and honest, straightforward advice, I have seen my writing blossom and grow into something I am truly proud of.”

Patricia Hermes

Patricia Hermes is the author of more than 40 books for children and teenagers, as well as many magazine articles for adults.

Her work has been featured in the New York Times, Woman’s Day, American Baby, Life and Health, and most recently in Scholastic Scope.

Ms. Hermes’ young reader chapter books are built around familiar holidays and include Christmas Magic (1998), A Hoppy Easter (1998), Turkey Trouble (1997), My Secret Valentine (1996), and Something Scary (1997), all published by Scholastic.

For middle-grade readers, Ms. Hermes’ books include Kevin Corbett Eats Flies and its sequel, Heads I Win, both International Reading Association’s Children’s Choices; Cheat the Moon (Little, Brown, 1998); and Sweet By and By (HarperCollins, 2002).

Books for young adults by Patricia Hermes include A Time to Listen: Preventing Youth Suicide, honored as a Best Book by the New York Library Association, and Mama, Let’s Dance, a School Library Journal Best Book for 1992.

Ms. Hermes’ latest venture is historical novels, with the publication of Calling Me Home (Avon, 1998), a Children’s Choice winner. She also contributed six books to Scholastic’s historical fiction series, My America, including Our Strange New Land (2000), Westward to Home (2001), and The Starving Time (2001).

Maurene J. Hinds

An accomplished author and experienced teacher of creative and technical writing, Maurene J. Hinds is skilled at writing and selling to the children’s market.

Her writing credits include John Steinbeck: Banned, Challenged, and Censored (Enslow, 2008); Fighting the AIDS and HIV Epidemic: A Global Battle (Enslow, 2007); The Ferguson Guide to Resumes and Job Hunting Skills (Ferguson, 2005); Furman V. Georgia and The Death Penalty Debate (Enslow, 2005); You Have The Right To Know Your Rights: What Teens Should Know (Enslow, 2005); Grant Writing Made Easy (Frank Schaffer, 2005); and Focus on Body Image: How You Feel About How You Look (Enslow, 2002).

Her young adult fiction manuscript, Bruised, won first place in the young adult category in the 2006 Write It Now! competition. Ms. Hinds has also written articles for The Blue Review, Children’s Writers E-News, and Career Planning & Adult Development Journal, as well as a variety of educational materials, including textbook selections, study guides, and test materials.

Marcia Hoehne

The publication of Marcia Hoehne’s first book, A Place of My Own (Crossway Books, 1993), was an exciting achievement in itself, but even more so when the publisher requested that the author produce three more books for a series called the Adventures of Jenna V.

Additional titles about life in Jenna V’s large family are A Pocket in My Heart (1994), The Fairy Tale Friend (1994), and Sunflower Girl (1995).

Two Caroline Grade mysteries, The Music Box Test and The Paper Route Treasure (Lion/Chariot Victor, 1994), feature math and word puzzles. Stay Away from the Swamp (1996) is a suspenseful addition to Tommy Nelson’s Spine Chillers series, published under the pseudonym of Fred E. Katz.

The Journey of Emilie (1999) is Ms. Hoehne’s contribution to The Immigrants’ Chronicles, a popular series published by Chariot Victor Publishing.

Ms. Hoehne’s magazine work has appeared in Pockets, Turtle, and Sunday school publications.

“When I was assigned my instructor, she immediately told me my strengths and weaknesses. She encouraged me to work on my nonfiction writing, because she felt I was stronger in that area. Boy, was she right! I’m currently writing for my local paper.”

Daphne Hogstrom

Daphne Hogstrom’s 22 books were written for young readers and published by Golden Press, Whitman Press, and Rand McNally.

Her writing credits include Noni, Old King Cole, My Big Book of Finger Plays, The Real Book of First Pictures, and Little Boy Blue.

Ms. Hogstrom’s 100 stories, poems, plays, and puzzles have appeared in Jack And Jill, Golden Magazine, Child Life, Ranger Rick, and Junior Catholic Messenger, as well as Accent Magazine, Instructor Magazine, The Teacher, and Growing, a preschool quarterly for church teachers.

Her editorial work includes contributions to the Sheldon Basic Series and Open Gates (Allyn & Bacon), and the “All About Me” section for The Children’s Encyclopedia (Field Enterprises). For four years she edited “The Toy Box,” the children’s section of Bucks County Life, as well as book manuscripts for New Hope Publishing Company.

Kristi Holl

Kristi Holl’s first story was published in February 1980, while she was a student in our course. She now has more than 150 short stories and articles and 35 books to her credit.

Ms. Holl’s stories and articles have appeared in Jack And Jill, Child Life, Children’s Playmate, Touch, The Writer, and other magazines. Her first book, Just Like a Real Family (Atheneum, 1983), was nominated for children’s book awards in five states.

Ms. Holl’s children’s books deal with everything from terminal illness to abandonment and forgiveness. She also loves to write mysteries. Several of her books are whodunits, including the Carousel Mystery series (A Spin Out of Control, Deadly Disguise, and Stage Fright) and four mysteries from Zonderkidz: Pick Your Poison, Secrets for Sale, Smoke Screen, and Fading Tracks. She also contributed to Tommy Nelson’s TodaysGirl.com series, and authored the Julie McGregor series (Standard Publishing) and the Faithgirlz nonfiction line (Zonderkidz).

In addition to writing, Ms. Holl spent four years as the Institute’s first web editor, helping writers online with writing tips and crafting a weekly article of encouragement. From those articles came her book for adults: Writer’s First Aid: Getting Organized, Getting Inspired, and Sticking to It (2003), which includes insights and solutions for problems that all writers struggle with.

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H. M. Hoover

“Hoover writes for those who prefer their science fiction with food for thought,” said School Library Journal about H. M. Hoover’s Another Heaven, Another Earth. Others agreed: Another Heaven was among the American Library Association’s Best Books for Young Adults; it also won the Ohioana Award, and was placed on the American Library Association children’s librarians’ list of “101 Best of the Best in Young Adult Literature in the Last 25 Years.”

Ms. Hoover has authored more than twenty books, many of which are science fiction. She has also published a historical novel for children, The Lion’s Cub (Four Winds Press), and a mythological/historical novel, The Dawn Palace (E. P. Dutton), an American Library Association Best Book and winner of the Parents Choice Media Award.

Orvis; Another Heaven, Another Earth; and This Time of Darkness all received Parents Choice Awards and have recently been re-issued by Tor Books as part of its Starscape line. Her credits also include The Whole Truth…and Other Myths (The National Gallery, 1997).

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“From the start, my instructor…has commended my originality and appreciated my humor….Her letters to me have been encouraging, and her suggestions…show me she has tapped into my thinking.”

Jacqueline Horsfall

Jacqueline Horsfall is equally comfortable writing juvenile fiction and nonfiction.

Ms. Horsfall’s stories, articles, activities, and poems—more than 200 to date—have appeared in popular children’s magazines such as Highlights for Children, Jack And Jill, Humpty Dumpty’s Magazine, Children’s Playmate, Guideposts for Kids, Calliope, Cobblestone, Pockets, Turtle, Your Big Backyard, Child Life, Listen, and My Friend. For two years she also wrote environmental articles for Current Health 1, a Weekly Reader publication for grades 4–7.

Ms. Horsfall also has several books to her credit. Play Lightly on the Earth: Nature Activities for Children 3 to 9 Years Old (Dawn, 1997), won a Parent’s Guide to Children’s Media Award (1998) and was translated into Japanese and German.

Ms. Horsfall’s first book, Play Lightly on the Earth: Nature Activities for Children 3 to 9 Years Old (Dawn, 1997), won a Parent’s Guide to Children’s Media Award (1998). Her most recent joke-and-riddle books, all published by Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., include: Giggle Fit: Dinosaur Jokes (2003), Giggle Fit: Funny Riddles (2003), Super Goofy Jokes (2004), Kids’ Kookiest Knock-Knocks (2006), and Giggle Fit: Bug Jokes (2006).

Her prize-winning books include Dora the Explorer: Safety (Learning Horizons, 2004), which was awarded Creative Child magazine’s “Seal of Excellence,” and Winifred Witch and Her Very Own Cat (Dalmatian Press, 2001), which won second place in the Best Juvenile Book category for the Missouri Writers’ Guild. Cooking Around the Calendar with Kids (Instructors Unlimited, 2001) was winner of the Missouri Writers’ Guild Walter Williams Major Work Award.

Her recent books include The 100th Day of School (2007), Symmetry Crafts (2007), and Make An Animal Craft (2007), all published by Pearson Learning Group.

Ms. Houts’s numerous short stories, nonfiction articles, poetry, and plays have appeared in Ladybug, Babybug, Lollipops, and Holidays and Seasonal Celebrations. She has also written adult nonfiction for Unity, VFW, and Rural Missouri.

More than 250 of her articles have appeared in her local newspaper, where Ms. Houts spent six years as a features writer/reporter.

Gail Jarrow

Gail Jarrow began her publishing career by combining her love of science and writing.

After earning her bachelor’s degree from Duke University, Ms. Jarrow taught mathematics and science to grades four through eight for five years. Then she earned a master’s degree from Dartmouth College and took advanced courses in writing and editing at Cornell University. She took the final step in her preparation for publication when she enrolled in the Institute’s course, Writing for Children and Teenagers.

As a student, Ms. Jarrow sold children’s science magazine articles and a short story. Since then she has sold both fiction and nonfiction to magazines such as Highlights for Children, Child Life, Spider, Faces, and Cricket.

Science carried over to her books, as well. Naked Mole-Rats (Carolrhoda, 1996) and The Naked Mole-Rat Mystery: Scientific Sleuths at Work (Lerner, 1996) won national awards including the National Science Teachers Association/Children’s Book Council Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children. Other nonfiction credits include Animal Babysitters (Grolier/Watts, 2001); Animals Attack! Bears (2003); Animals Attack! Rhinos (2003); and A Medieval Castle (2004), all published by KidHaven Press, and The Printer’s Trial (Calkins Creek Books, 2006).

Ms. Jarrow’s fiction titles include That Special Someone (Berkeley, 1985), The Two-Ton Secret (Avon, 1989), and If Phyllis Were Here (Houghton Mifflin, 1987), which was favorably reviewed by School Library Journal and Booklist. Beyond the Magic Sphere (Harcourt Brace, 1994) was chosen as a Junior Library Guild selection.

More on Jane Kendall’s books

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Christine Kohler

Christine Kohler’s writing career is proof that an unknown writer can make it out of the slush pile to publication.

In 1982, she submitted a children’s book to an editor at Concordia Publishing. The editor wrote and said he was interested in her picture storybook and had sent it to committee for consideration. So Ms. Kohler mailed him another children’s book she had written. Concordia not only bought both books, but requested Ms. Kohler write a fiction series. The Growing Up Christian series was published in 1985 with four titles: Jesus Makes Me Well; My Friend Is Moving; Help Me, I’m Lost; and I Help the Handicapped.

She has since had two more titles published: Teacher’s Guide & Video Game Book for Acts (BibleVision and Zondervan, 1988) and For a Better Life (Steck-Vaughn/Harcourt, 2003). For a Better Life, a high interest/low vocabulary nonfiction book for middle-grade students, includes some of Ms. Kohler’s own photographs.

Ms. Kohler has taught middle and high school English and journalism at three private schools in Florida and Texas. She also worked at daily newspapers as a reporter, photojournalist, and foreign correspondent covering the West Pacific for Gannett, and as an editor and copy editor for Hearst.

Christine Kohler is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and the Writers’ League of Texas.

“My instructor knew I was frightened at the beginning and put me at ease. She has never told me ‘what to do’ but has suggested a better way. I feel only encouraged, never put down. I really look forward to her comments on each assignment.”

Barbara Kramer’s first three young adult biographies, all written for Enslow Publishers, were about prominent novelists—Alice Walker, Amy Tan, and Toni Morrison.

Alice Walker: Author of The Color Purple (1995) was a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age. Amy Tan: Author of The Joy Luck Club (1996) made the same list in 1997. Toni Morrison: Nobel Prize-Winning Author (1996) was a Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies in 1997.

Ken Griffey Junior: All-Around All-Star (Lerner, 1996), a book recommended for reluctant readers, and three books about astronauts followed: Neil Armstrong: The First Man on the Moon (1997), Sally Ride: A Space Biography (1998), and John Glenn: A Space Biography (1998). All were written for Enslow, as were her biographies of Ron Howard, Tipper Gore, Madeleine Albright, and Tom Hanks.

Ms. Kramer has written two collective biographies: Trailblazing American Women: First in Their Fields (2000) and The Founders of Famous Food Companies (2002).

She has also ventured into writing historical biographies: George Washington Carver: Scientist and Inventor (2002), and Mahalia Jackson: The Voice of Gospel and Civil Rights (2002). Meet the Famous Astronaut—Neil Armstrong (2003) is targeted for readers four to eight years of age.

Virginia Kroll

“There is a story in everyone I meet, everything I do,” Virginia Kroll says, and the diversity of her subjects is noteworthy and amply reflected in the more than 60 books and over 1,760 juvenile magazine items she has had accepted for publication.

Her writing credits include many award-winning titles, such as Masai and I (Four Winds Press, 1992), one of Publishers Weekly’s “Best 50 Books of 1992.” It was recommended by the Jane Addams Peace Association and the National Conference of Christians and Jews for promoting brotherhood.

Fireflies, Peach Pies, and Lullabies (Simon & Schuster, 1995) was named an Outstanding Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies (1995), and Sweet Magnolia (Charlesbridge, 1995) was given the KIND award for Best Book of 1996 by the Humane Society of the United States, as well as the Skipping Stones Multicultural Book Award. Butterfly Boy (Boyds Mills Press, 1997) was named Best Picture Book of 1997 by the Society of School Librarians International.

Recent titles include Everybody Has a Teddy (Sterling, 2007); Uno, Dos, Tres, Posada! (Viking, 2006); On the Way to Kindergarten (Putnam, 2006); and Really Rabbits (Charlesbridge, 2006).

The latest of her over 600 fiction and nonfiction works have appeared in Primary Treasures, On the Line, Story Mates, Partners, Kidz Chat, Live Wire, Discovery Trails, Power Station, Counselor, and Our Little Friends.

Even though her first love is writing for children, Ms. Landreth also writes for teachers and parents. Some of the teacher magazines in which her work has been published include: Resource, Teacher Interaction, Parish Teacher, Christian Education Counselor, Shining Star, Bible Pathways, Religious Teachers Journal, and others.

Some of the parenting magazines in which her work has appeared include: Living with Preschoolers, Living with Children, Homelife, Christian Home, and The Family Digest.

For 10 years Ms. Landreth wrote a teacher learning center column for Church Educator, a magazine published by Educational Ministries, Inc. She also co-authored six books with this Christian educational publisher.

“I was a bit scared at first, but my instructor put me at ease right from the start. She asks questions about my writing interests and goals, and sets me in the right direction. Already, she’s got me sending for magazine samples. I can’t wait for my next lesson!”

Judith Logan Lehne

For the past 15 years, Judith Logan Lehne has concentrated on children’s writing, and her work has been published in Highlights for Children (and given their Outstanding Author Award for “The Ragman’s Music”), Cricket, Children’s Playmate, Spider, Creative Classroom, The Friend, and Merlyn’s Pen.

Ms. Lehne’s books include Kangaroos for Kids (Gareth Stevens, 2000), Coyote Girl (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1995), When the Ragman Sings (HarperCollins, 1993), and The Never-Be-Bored Book (Sterling Publishing, 1992).

Her stories and articles have been anthologized in the Celebrate Reading series for teachers (Scott-Foresman, 1993, 1995, 2000), The Blue Darter (Boyds Mills Press, 1995), Jack’s Best Boots (Boyds Mills Press, 1993), and Sports: Prime Time Library (Essential Learning Products, 1992).

Suzanne Lieurance

Suzanne Lieurance is a full-time freelance writer and the author of 12 books for children.

Her books include Kidding Around Kansas City (John Muir Publications, 1997); Shoelaces (Grolier/ Children’s Press, 2000); and School Projects For Pennies (Publications International, 2000).

She is also the author of three books in Enslow’s In American History series: The Prohibition Era (2003); The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire and Sweatshop Reform (2003); and The Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster (2001).

Although she’s now a full-time freelance writer, for many years Ms. Lieurance was a high school English and reading teacher, working at a variety of schools. No matter where she taught, Ms. Lieurance always tried to find time to write.

She managed to have short stories and articles published in magazines including The Friend, Instructor, New Moon, and Once Upon A Time. She was formerly a co-regional advisor for her local chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, a position which led to her first book, Kidding Around Kansas City, which she co-authored with Lisa Harkrader.

As a full-time freelancer she often works for educational publishers (like Harcourt and Flying Rhino), writing everything from assessment materials to complete resource books.

In addition to books, magazine articles, and short stories, Ms. Lieurance writes an online column for children’s writers at the Word Museum website. She is also a contributing editor for Tutor House Software.

“The words I would like to use to describe my instructor are: supportive, encouraging, professional, comfortable, and positive. I love the way she grasps what I’m trying to get across and never tries to limit my style.”

An author, teacher, curriculum and education writer, and former national magazine editor, Susan Ludwig knows exactly what it takes to launch a successful writing career.

Her own writing credits include three books and two plays for children, among them Exam Cram ACT (Que Publishing, 2005) and the best-selling teacher’s resource, 24 Ready-to-Go Genre Book Reports (Scholastic Professional Books, 2002).

As a playwright, Ms. Ludwig is the author of Explore and Explain: A Play About Spanish Explorers and the New World (Discovery Enterprises, 2003) and This is Our New Country: A Play About Citizenship (Discovery Enterprises, 2003).

Her short articles have also been published in a wide range of magazines, including Today’s Parent, Wonder Years, and Teaching PreK-8. Ms. Ludwig is a contributing writer for Duke University’s quarterly Gifted newsletter, where she writes about education, schools, and curriculum issues. She is also the former editor of SWIM magazine (now USMS Swimmer).

April Lurie is the author of the acclaimed middle-grade and young adult novels, The Latent Powers of Dylan Fontaine (Random House/Delacorte, 2008); Brothers, Boyfriends & Other Criminal Minds (Delacorte, 2007); Dancing in the Streets of Brooklyn (Delacorte, 2002); and The Less-Dead (Delacorte, publishing date to be announced).

Known for her strong first-person narrative, likeable characters, poignant stories, and laugh-out-loud humor, Ms. Lurie is a well-respected author whose books have received rave reviews. Brothers, Boyfriends & Other Criminal Minds received a starred review from KLIATT; Booklist called it “delightful,” and “an obvious hit.” Brothers, Boyfriends & Other Criminal Minds was on the Texas Lone Star Reading List, and a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age.

Her most recent title, The Latent Powers of Dylan Fontaine, was commended by Booklist for its “strong first-person narration,” and “healthy doses of humor [that] balance this well-crafted story of a family in pain and a boy’s self-discovery.” It was nominated by the American Library Association as a Best Book for Young Adults.

Marcia Amidon Lüsted realized how challenging and how much fun writing nonfiction could be when she wrote The Holy City of Jerusalem (Lucent Books, 2002) for young readers.

While she was writing the book, she utilized many different sources in order to research nearly three thousand years of Jerusalem’s history and explain how the ancient city was continually built, destroyed, and rebuilt. The resulting bibliography, which she compiled for the book, was pronounced “excellent” by School Library Journal.

Her other titles include Presidents of the United States: Revolution and the New Nation (Weigl Publishing, 2007), The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami (Abdo, 2007), and Obesity and Food Policing (Abdo, 2007). She has also been published in Cobblestone, AppleSeeds, Odyssey, Calliope, and Dig magazines.

As a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Ms. Lüsted has attended numerous conferences in Iowa and New England. She is also listed in a Gale Research publication, Something about the Author, which can be found in the reference section at most public libraries.