“I love to write. Everything about it charges me up—discovering ideas, researching, playing with words, even revising my revisions. So far, I’ve published more than 100 nonfiction and fiction titles for children and young adults. Learn more about my books here or email me about an author visit. I’d love to talk with your students or group about writing or books!”
- Tracy Nelson Maurer
On a breezy almost-summer day, I walked from the University of Minnesota to the Loft Literary Center to hear Natalie Goldberg speak (author of Writing Down the Bones, The Great Spring,and many other books). I was wearing a new sassy dress and feeling happy to hear one of my writing rock stars.
Then my sandal caught on the sidewalk edge and I could not catch myself. I biffed. Hard. My knee became my brake, using friction like a cheese grater to stop my momentum. The rough concrete sliced my fingers and hands. And if that wasn’t enough mortification, my flouncy dress was up over my butt for all of the Washington Avenue traffic to see.
Meeting Candace Fleming (above) was pure luck, back in 2009. On the other hand, I stalked M. T. Anderson at a book fair once. With my children. They haven't forgiven me.
I’ll admit it, writers are my rock stars. But not just the famous writers. My writing critique group. My writing colleagues. The writers I teach in workshops. They’re committed. They’re enthusiastic. They’re talented. They’re learners. In my world, they all rock.