Writing, Research, and the American Girl
I never was one to care much about playing with dolls when I was growing up but I found this interview by friend, Barbara Bietz, of Jacqueline Dembar Greene, the author of the newest addition to the American Girl historical doll collection, quite interesting.
The doll, named Rebecca Rubin, is a 9-year old Jewish girl 
growing up in New York City in 1914. Of particular note is the information Greene provides about her research process while writing the books. (There’s also a discussion/commentary on the doll/books taking place at child_lit . Note also this recent New York Times article by Allen Salkin, “American Girl’s Journey to the Lower East Side.” )
photo credit: x-eyedblonde
Another friend, Tina Nichols Coury, shares one of Barbara’s writing tips today at Tales from the Rushmore Kid.
I've lived and traveled around the world, but now make my home in California.
By day, I teach; evenings and many weekends, I write.
My teaching, reading, and writing eventually led to a degree in Language and Literacy, and later, an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts.