ABSTRACT
E-mail: vaundanelson@hotmail.com
“I grew up the fifth and youngest child in a rural community near Pittsburgh. I feel lucky to be able to say I had a wonderful childhood. Our extended family spent Sundays together, went on picnics, and the cousins took turns spending the night at each other’s houses. Things seemed simpler then. Being black, we had some obstacles growing up, but family gave me the strength to deal with whatever came my way.
“My love of books began at bedtime, which was story time at our home. My mother read to us every day, and my father wrote and recited poetry. They taught me the power of language and inspired me to write. Through my work both as a writer and a children’s librarian, I hope to provide children with some of what my parents gave me—the opportunity to grow through story.
“I write for children, but first I write for myself. It’s my way of sorting things, my way of coping with the world. Writing helps me to understand because it forces me to really look at things closely and to think about more than one way of seeing. My stories often grow from personal experience, but it’s not simply a matter of telling about something that has happened to me; it’s more about facing the questions I still have and allowing my characters to help me find answers.”
