How did I become a writer?
I'm fairly certain I was born that way, though encouragement from the right person at the right time certainly helped.
Among the most inspirational:
- Mrs. Paradis, my second-grade teacher at St. Genevieve's in Panorama City, California. Mrs. Paradis was a sweetheart and did nothing but encourage her students.
- Mrs. Harrington, my sixth-grade reading teacher at Abraham Lincoln Middle School, who turned me on to Roald Dahl, Norton Juster and other great authors.
- Karyl Baker, my creative writing teacher at Corona del Mar High. Ms. Baker was in love with words and the poetry of language, a passion she passed on to her students. I took her class twice--the second time for no credit--that's how much I enjoyed the experience!
- My many editors at the Los Angeles Times including Elliott Almond, Mike James and Herb Stutz, who encouraged me; Gary Metzker, who kept me laughing, and Marty Baron, who inspired me to be a better journalist and gave me just the nudge I needed to pursue my lifelong goal of writing for children.
- My son, Jack, 7, who has been correcting my grammar and reviewing my manuscripts ("But Mom, that's an off rhyme!") for several years now.
