I am often asked why I write biographies for children. Since my favorite books are biographies, the answer is simple—because I like to read them. Every life has a story and nothing pleases me more than to curl up with book about someone I want to know more about.  My favorite biographies are historical.  I want to know about the times the person lived in and the choices they made in their lives.

Thomas Nast

I chose to write about Thomas Nast, the political cartoonist, because his life story intrigued me.  He also had a great sense of humor and knew how to laugh at himself.  In this full length self-portrait, Nast is poking fun at his poor financial situation by pulling out his empty pocks and hanging his head.  Nast used the drawing as a greeting card and wrote on it “Compliments of the Seasons” and signed it “A La Carte” Th. Nast Jan. 1, 1894.

Amelia Earhart

I wrote about Amelia Earhart because I felt too much emphasis was being put on her disappearance.  She was an independent woman “born before her time” who loved to fly, was neither the best pilot nor the worst, and had written several books.   In my opinion, she was a good writer.  Amelia often dressed in men’s clothes. In this photograph, she is wearing a men’s hat and a fur coat.

Mark Twain

I wrote about Mark Twain because I wanted to focus on his role as a humorist.  Twain felt humor was “mankind’s greatest blessing.” He also advised the best way “to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.”

My favorite Twain quote is “If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat.”  He also once said “I simply can’t resist a cat, particularly a purring one. They are the cleanest, cunningest, and most intelligent things I know, outside of the girl you love, of course.”

What Are Your Stories

I have shared some of my stories.  Now what about yours?  If you were going to write a biography, who would you write about?

Note:  The photographs were obtained from the Library of Congress, Photographs and Prints Division.