"Dino Trekking" "Kids Go! Denver" "365 After School Activities" "365 Outdoor Activities" "365 Things You Can Do On a Saturday" "Project for Pennies" "I Bought a Baby Chicken" "Look What You Can Make With Craft Sticks"
Kelly's articles have been published in the "Washington Post", "Chicago Tribune", "Denver Post", "Highlights for Children", "Family Fun" and a host of other popular magazines. She has interviewed many children's authors such as, Chris Crutcher, Terry Trueman, Richard Peck and most recently Kenny Rogers!
Kelly also offers presentations on how to become successful in the writing profession and also covers trends in young adult literature. Please keep her in mind if your school or organization needs a truly dynamic presentation.
Kelly is the mother of two daughters aged 12 and 19 and somehow still finds time to paint, snow ski and play tennis. She currently lives in Spokane, Washington. Please visit Kelly's terrific website at SmartWriters.com.
http://www.kellymilnerhalls.com
1.SR: What were some of your favorite books when you were a child?
KMH:I was a Dr. Seuss fan when I was a very little girl. And there was a book called
"Little Bit," about a tiny mouse I loved at that point, because I was shorter than
most of my classmates. When I got to chapter books, I read only about Abe
Lincoln and vampires. Now there's one for the therapists. 2.SR: Who inspired you to want to write? Any mentors or role models? KMH: My mother was a singer and my father was a computer whiz. I have NO idea
where writing entered my blood. But from the 4th grade on, I knew I could impress
my teachers with writing, so I had some inkling it might be my future. As a high
school journalism student, Linda Ellerbee and Geraldo Rivera were my role
models. Now, as I learn to write YA fiction, Chris Crutcher is my mentor. 3.SR: When did you realize you wanted to be a writer? KMH: I knew words had a certain power by the 4th grade. I knew I wanted to write
professionally as a junior in high school. My journalism teacher was eccentric and
not particularly gifted as an educator, but she did understand hands-on
experience. So she let us -- the student staff -- run the monthly paper. And I
learned more in that two years than I learned in college.
