Making It In Kids' Lit

The dream of being a children’s book author is now a reality, one that happily continues to evolve

- Marilyn Helmer

Books have always been my passion. When my children were born, it was natural for me to share my love of reading with them. My children are just 15 months apart in age and my son Chris, the older of the two, hit the “terrible twos“ well before his first birthday. While racing after him one morning as he ran from one no-no to the next, I collapsed on the sofa to catch my breath. A copy of Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat caught my eye. In desperation, I grabbed the book and began to read. Ah, the magic of story! My mile a-minute son actually cuddled up beside me to listen. In those cozy moments, peace reigned supreme.

After that, reading became a delightful part of our routine. When Chris’s sister Sandra was born, the reading sessions continued. Soon we were off to the library every week to bring home an armload of books. We each had our favourites, which we read over and over again. Why, I wondered, were some stories so well-loved that they rated repeated readings, while others received a lukewarm response? What made one story stand out among the rest? Could I write such a story, one that would become so special it would beg to be read again and again? My dream was born. I was going to be a children’s author.