Why I Write for Kids Too
By Amanda Flower
At the end of January, my cell phone rang and the location
of the caller on the display was Washington DC. I knew what the call was. Only
one source has ever called me from that city, and it’s not the president. With
shaky hands I answered the call because I could always be wrong in my
assumption. The caller told me she was calling from the Malice Domestic Board
to notify me that my children’s book, ANDI
UNSTOPPABLE, had been nominated for an Agatha Award. I had been right,
Despite the nominations for the Andi Series, I am better
known as an adult cozy mystery author. When people find out that I also write
for kids, they are surprised and some even ask me why. The simple answer is I
write for kids because I remember loving to read as a child, especially at the
middle grade level. I gobbled up books by the dozens, but my favorites were and
always have been mysteries. Back then, there weren’t that many mysteries about
kids close to my age. The ones that I loved were the Baby-sitter Club Mystery
Series and the Mandie Series. I read them all, among others. Before too long, I
ran out of children’s options and I was reading adult mysteries by age eleven,
but I still wished for more books about clever sleuths my own age.
So the Agatha Award nominations, win or lose, for this
series are extra special to me because I know that eleven-year-old Amanda would
have loved them. I also know from the notes I receive from young readers that
kids are enjoying them too, and that’s all I ever wanted from this series.
Happy Reading!!
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GIVEAWAY
Visit Amanda’s website for a chance to win one of four $50
Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift cards. Winner’s Choice!
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Amanda
Flower, a three time Agatha-nominated mystery author, started her writing
career in elementary school when she read a story she wrote to her sixth grade
class and had the class in stitches with her description of being stuck on the
top of a Ferris wheel. She knew at that moment she’d found her calling of
making people laugh with her words. Amanda is a librarian in Northeast Ohio.
She also writes as USA Today Bestselling Author Isabella Alan. Her next release
is CRIME AND POETRY coming April 5, 2016. www.amandaflower.com 
I agree with you - I didn't even have Babysitter's club growing up. We had Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Bobbsey Twins, Encyclopedia Brown and that was about it!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this blog. Since I have grandchildren who are tis age I am so happy you write for this age group. Good luck at Malice Domestic.
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