has won many awards and is one trip through cyberspace any children's writer should take.
SR: How did your interest in writing develop?
VK: All my life, I hated to write and thought I was the "world's worst writer." It wasn't until we owned and managed a laundromat in Carson City, Nevada, that I discovered I had an aptitude for writing. One of my regular customers was a woman who was a successful free lance writer for magazines. She looked at some of my writing and was constantly encouraging me to become a writer. The seed had been sown. We later moved back to Santa Cruz, and for the next few years, I ran a licensed daycare from my home. Snaps 'N Snails Daycare catered to six children at a time - most of the children being between five months and three years old. While I read books to the children, I couldn't stop thinking about writing stories of my own. Finally in 1989, the call to write became too strong and I signed up for a correspondence course through the Institute of Children's Literature. That was the beginning of my journey into this wonderful world of writing for children.
SR: What is the appeal of history and non-fiction to you?
VK: Again, as a child I HATED history and I considered non-fiction to be a swear word. It wasn't until I was an adult that I realized how fascinating and interesting history and non-fiction could be. As a writer of children's stories, it's my "goal" to make history FUN for children to read. To get them excited about the subjects I write about so they will go on to read those "heavy" non-fiction books and learn more about history.
SR: Is there a common theme that runs through your books?
VK: Right now, if there is any theme at all, it's American History. I hope to someday expand and write about other interesting places and
