Tag Archives: Teacher Authors

Gertrude Chandler Warner: The elementary teacher who wrote The Boxcar Children Mysteries

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Gertrude Chandler Warner of Connecticut, was an elementary school teacher who became famous for writing The Boxcar Children Mysteries. Photo credit: Gertrude Warner Museum.

There are many talented classroom teachers in our country who have also made a name for themselves as popular authors. One of these is Gertrude Chandler Warner of Connecticut, an elementary school teacher who became famous for writing the original version of the children’s stories known as The Boxcar Children Mysteries.

Gertrude was born on April 16, 1890, in Putnam, Connecticut. She decided at a very young age that she wanted to be an author. From the age of five, she wrote stories for her grandfather, and each Christmas she gifted him one of these stories. As a youngster, Gertrude suffered from frequent illnesses, and for this reason she never finished high school. In her sophomore year, she completed her secondary education with the assistance of a tutor.

In 1918, when World War I was in full swing, Gertrude was hired to teach first grade, primarily because many men teachers were being called to serve in the military. The position served to be a good fit for Gertrude, who continued to teach until 1950. During these years, she spent her summers completing education courses at Yale University.

All her life, Gertrude was a nature-lover. As a child, she developed butterfly and moth collections, pressed wild flowers, learned about the birds in her area, and tended a garden. She incorporated these interests in her classroom lessons, and she also developed nature themes in her books.

In 1924, while convalescing at home from a lengthy illness, Gertrude developed the idea for a children’s book. This is how she came to write the first installment of The Boxcar Children. This original version was published by Rand McNally and Company in 1924. Not only did Gertrude write the original story, but she also wrote the next 18 books in the series.

After her retirement from the classroom, Gertrude became a volunteer for the American Red Cross, the Connecticut Cancer Society, and other community service organizations. This talented educator and author passed away on August, 20, 1979, at the age of 89. She is interred at Grove Street Cemetery in her home town of Putnam, Connecticut.

To learn more about Gertrude Chandler Warner, click on this link to The Boxcar Children Museum.

Educator and author Andee Reilly releases new Christmas novel

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Educator and author Andee Reilly has just released a new Christmas romance which would make perfect reading for Winter Break. Photo credit: Andee Reilly.

Looking for a relaxing Christmas read over your Winter Break? I recommend A Christmas Love Song, a romance novel just released by English educator Andee Reilly.

Andee is well-versed in the study and teaching of excellent writing. In 1988, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies at California State University, Northridge. She earned a Master’s degree in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing from California State University, Los Angeles, in 1999. In 2010, she completed the requirements for a second Master’s degree in Creative Writing from the University of California, Riverside, in Riverside, California.

After earning her teaching credential, Andee inaugurated her career as an English teacher at Palisades High School in Pacific Palisades, California. After a few years at the high school level, Andee was hired to teach at Moorpark College. She taught additional courses at Pierce College and the College of the Canyons, until securing a position at California State University, Channel Islands (CSUCI). While at CSUCI, Andee garnered a Maximus Award for outstanding teaching. A few years later, Andee moved  to Hawaii, where she accepted a teaching position at the University of Hawaii, Maui College. There she currently teaches composition to incoming freshman.

In addition to her classroom successes, the honored educator also enjoys success as a published novelist. In 2015, Andee published her first novel, Satisfaction. This entertaining book tells the story of Ginny Martin, a recent divorcee, who embarks on a road trip to attend every concert on the Rolling Stones’ North American tour. Along the way, Ginny learns more about herself than she expected. Andee’s second book, A Christmas Love Song, gives us a romance between a has-been pop star, Jake Wilder, and Mackenzie Stone, a reporter longing to become a serious and respected journalist.

You can purchase Andee’s new release on amazon.com at the link A Christmas Love Song. You can find Andee’s first book by clicking the Satisfaction. To visit her website, click on www.andeereilly.com.

Teacher, judge, author, and veteran Robert Gustaveson

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Former teacher and Korean Conflict veteran Robert Gustaveson was also  an exemplary judge and a successful author. Photo credit: Russon Mortuary and Crematory.

I always feel privileged to share stories about individuals who have served as dedicated classroom teachers that have also served our country as veterans. One of these was Robert Gustaveson, a former middle school teacher who also served in the United States Air Force.

Robert was born on February 3, 1928, in Los Angeles, California. He was raised there until his family relocated to Hyrum, Utah. A young man of strong religious beliefs, after his high school graduation he returned to California to complete a mission for the Church of Latter-Day Saints. Once he returned from his mission, Robert completed the requirements for his Bachelor’s degree and then his Master’s degree, both from Utah State University.

During the Korean Conflict, Robert served as an officer in the United States Air Force. He was assigned to the 5th Air Force 67th Tactical Recognizance Wing in Kimpo. His heroism there earned Robert three battle stars.

Once he completed his military service, Robert accepted a teaching position at a middle school in Salt Lake City, Utah. While working as an educator there, he met and married his wife, Julia.

After a period of time, Robert decided to shift from a career in education to a career in law. He attended law school at the University of Utah, and once he earned his Juris Doctorate, Robert and Julia returned to California, settling in the area of Pomona and Claremont. The former teacher was elected City Attorney in Pomona, and in 1973, he became a Superior Court Judge for Los Angeles County. He also served as a Presiding Judge of the Los Angeles County Municipal courts.

After his retirement in 2003, Robert continued to serve as a judge on assignment. He also authored and published seven novels. In addition, he was a prolific artist, and enjoyed sketching, painting, and drawing cartoons.

Sadly, this Renaisance man passed away on Nov. 2, 2021, of congestive heart failure. He was 93 years old. He was laid to rest at the Hyrum City Cemetery.

Novelist and former teacher Michele Young-Stone

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Novelist Michele Young-Stone once taught high school and middle school English in Virginia. Photo credit: Michele Young-Stone.

Talented English teachers often make excellent creative writers. This is true of Michele Young-Stone, a teacher and successful novelist from the state of Virginia. To date, Michele has published three novels.

Michele was born in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1971, although she was raised in Chester. At the age of 17 she moved to Richmond, Virginia, where she attended Denmark University. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in English there in 1992. In 1994, she studied at Africa University, where she earned her Master’s degree in Teaching Secondary English.

Michele taught high school and middle school English in Virginia’s Nottoway and Henrico counties. In 2002, when she was 30 years old, she resigned from her teaching position and enrolled at Virginia Commonwealth University as a full-time student to study creative writing. There she earned her Master’s degree in Fine Arts.

Michele published her first book, The Handbook for Lightning Strike Survivors, in 2010. Her second book, Above Us Only Sky, was published in 2015. Her third book, Lost in the Beehive, published in 2018, enjoyed success as an O Magazine 2018 Book Pick.

Today Michele teaches an advanced fiction writing workshop through a local organization known as the Muse Writers Center in Norfolk, Virginia. She has also started working on her fourth novel.

“With every new book, there’s a new adventure,” asserts Michele. “Every time, I hope the process will get easier, but it never does because each book is its own beast, its own treasure, a unique act of discovery,” she says. “If you’re not putting down layers and scraping them away, you’re not really learning anything. You’re not, as John Gardner wrote in The Art of Fiction, making art,” Michele concludes.

To learn more about this talented teacher, see her website at Michele Young-Stone.

Educator Midori Snyder is also a successful novelist

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Former high school teacher Midori Snyder has published nine novels for children and adults, and numerous short stories and essays. Photo credit: Midori Snyder

Many fine educators also earn acclaim as published authors. One of these is Midori Snyder, a former high school teacher who has written nine books for children and adults.

Midori was born on January 1, 1954, in Santa Monica, California. As a young woman, she earned her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where she studied European social history and East Asian literature. She completed her Master’s degree in English Literature and Literary Theory at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. While there, she studied African languages and literature, specializing in Arabic and Swahili oral narrative traditions.

Once she earned her degrees, Midori taught at Marquette University High School. The school is a private Jesuit Roman Catholic school for boys located in Milwaukee.

Midori’s novels include her first novel, Soulstring, published in 1987, is a Gothic, high fantasy tale based on the British folk song “Tamlin.” She also wrote The Flight of Michael McBride, published in 1994, and Hannah’s Garden, published in 2005. Her novel Innamorati, published in 1998, garnered a Mythopoeic Award. She has published various pieces of short fiction and poetry has been published in a number of anthologies, including Borderlands and The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror. Her essays have appeared in magazines such as Realms of Fantasy. She has also collaborated with comic book artist Charles Vess to write the script for “Barbara Allen” in the acclaimed series Book of Ballads and Sagas.

After she left the classroom, Midori served as the Co-Director of The Endicott Studio, a nonprofit arts and literature organization founded in 1987. She also served as the Co-Editor of The Journal of Mythic Arts, founded in 1997. In 2007, she served as the jury chair for the James Tiptree, Jr., Award.

To read more about this talented educator, see her website at www.midorisnyder.com.