About Me
BIOGRAPHY of a BOOK LOVER
Birth to Adult - Aileen Gardner Kirkham
On April 18th in Casper, Wyoming,
I was surely born babbling about books, reading and writing them.
My childhood goal was to read all the books in the children's section.
As far as I was concerned it was like mining gold.
My favorite job was as a school librarian, now I'm a professional storyteller.
I am passionate about having kids learn and grin with the joy of a good story.
Teen Writer
My teen years in Shreveport, Louisiana, included
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writing for the school newspaper at Hamilton Terrace Jr. High.
- being the first newspaper editor of Northwood High School
Reading tastes varied: adventure, history, romance, science, and mystery.
If I owned a Kindle or Nook then, I would have bankrupted my parents!
People Who Inspired Me
READING - My mom was an avid reader and took me to the library constantly.
STORYTELLING & BOOKTALKING
Mrs. Jimmie Doerge, 7th grade teacher & friend, said I had a booktalking talent.
WRITING
Pat Miller, author, career librarian, and educator, convinced me to submit my first magazine article.
She encouraged me to write the intermediate books for the Collaborative Bridges series.
How do you spell writing success...MENTOR!
SCBWI
Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators' has also made a major impact on my writing. When I hosted the late Bill Wallace, children's author, he shared that it took him ten years to get published. Perseverance is a plus!
EDUCATION
1988 - Master of Library Science - Sam Houston State University
1972 - Bachelor of Education - Washburn University of Topeka
TEXAS EDUCATOR
Tomball Independent School District - retired 2011
Exemplary Elem. School Librarian - 22 years
Classroom teacher - 8 years
Aldine Independent School District - 1975-76, 2nd grade
North Forest Independent School District - 1974 - 75, 2nd Grade
Abilene Independent School District - 1974, teaching paraprofessional
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
The Authors Guild, Inc. - 2011 - Present
Greater Houston Area Puppetry Guild - 1980s - Present
Society for Children's Book Writers & Illustrators - 2001 - Present
Texas Library Association - 1987- 2017
CONTACT INFORMATION
akirkham4u@hotmail.com
www.aileenkirkham.com
281.357.1192
c/2018 - 19