Nancy Loewen

In order to write, I need:

1) hot tea, preferably chai.

2) a notebook. I save my kids’ partially used notebooks from school. Of course, that means that occasionally the covers of my notebooks have stickers or rhinestones or the names of cute boys on them, but it’s only a problem if I happen to be working at a coffee shop. If anyone is rude enough to snicker, I just put on my reading glasses and stare them down.

3) A pencil.

Eventually, of course, I need a computer, and often I need library books and website articles and the two-inch-thick thesaurus that I bought at a garage sale for a quarter, a quarter-century ago. But it all starts with the tea, the notebook, and the pencil.

Now that you know a little about my writing process, you might want to know some other facts about me. So here they are, in no particular order:

I’ve published nearly 100 books for children, mostly nonfiction.

I was born in Mt. Lake, a town of about 2,000 in southwestern Minnesota. I grew up on a farm. My parents raised corn, soybeans, and cats.
You already know that I have children, and you’ve deduced that at least one of them is most likely a girl. You would be correct. I have a teenage daughter who is the real writer in the family, and a teenage son who plays piano almost as well as his grandmother (the one with all the cats). I also have a husband, who works very hard so that I can sit around and drink chai tea and doodle in old notebooks.
I graduated from Mankato State University with a BA in English, thinking I’d go back for a master’s degree within a few years. That was in 1986. In 2007 I finally earned that MFA, from Hamline University.
We have a beagle named Dorie. She’s a bad, bad dog, but she has adorable floppy ears and a tail that doesn’t quit, so we just put child safety locks on our cupboards and take her on lots of walks.
We live in Prior Lake, which is a southern suburb of Minneapolis. (“Prior to what?” people sometimes ask. I don’t know.)
I have one brother, who is four years older than I am. When we were kids, he dropped a board on my face while building a tree house. I forgave him years ago, but I still have the scar. I’ve always thought it looks a bit like a lightning bolt . . .
Most of my published work has been children’s nonfiction, but I also like writing fiction, for both children and adults. One of my short stories was published in Mid-American Review. I’ve also published essays in Minnesota Parent and Child magazines.
Besides our bad, bad beagle, we have a guinea pig named Freddie, and two cats named Cyrus and Obi. I don’t mean to slight them by not giving each of them their own paragraph, the way I did for Dorie. They behave so much better than Dorie, and they deserve more. But this bio is getting kind of long already. In fact, I think I’d better end it right now.




			The LAST Day of Kindergarten illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa Marshall Cavendish Children, 2011 ages 4 to 6, ISBN 9780761458074 A little girl is sad that kindergarten is coming to an end. She wishes it were the first day again, when everything was exciting and new and there was such a fun year ahead. But then she realizes that graduating is exciting, too, and maybe first grade won’t be so bad after all! Awards & Recognition 2012 Minnesota Book Award finalist



			The Other Side of the Story series Picture Window Books, 2011 ages 4 to 8 Believe Me, Goldilocks Rocks! The Story of the Three Bears as told by Baby Bear illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan ISBN 978-1404866720 OF COURSE you think Goldilocks was a brat who broke in and trashed our house. You don't know the other side of the story. Well, let me tell you...



			Life's Challenges series Picture Window Books, 2011 ages 4 to 8 Animal characters gently explore difficult situations, helping children deal with life’s tougher lessons. Sidebars offer important and empowering coping tips. Good-bye, Jeepers: What to Expect When Your Pet Dies illustrated by Christopher Lyles ISBN 978-1404866805 Saying Good-bye to Uncle Joe: What to Expect When Someone You Love Dies illustrated by Christopher Lyles ISBN 978-1404866775



			Writer's Toolbox series Picture Window Books, 2010 ages 7 to 9 Turn readers into writers! Each title carefully examines one or more genre-specific writing examples. Readers will discover the tools and techniques that writers use to create plays, poems, fairy tales, journals, picture books, and more. The books include a review list of key concepts, at least four exercises for getting started, and numerous writing tips. Action! Writing Your Own Play illustrated by Dawn Beacon ISBN 9781404860179 It’s All About You: Writing Your Own Journal illustrated by Christopher Lyles and Todd Ouren ISBN 9781404855205 Just the Facts: Writing Your Own Research Report illustrated by Dawn Beacon ISBN 9781404855199 Make Me Giggle: Writing Your Own Silly Story illustrated by Cori Doerrfeld ISBN 9781404855182 Once Upon a Time: Writing Your Own Fairy Tale illustrated by Christopher Lyles ISBN 9781404853355 Share a Scare: Writing Your Own Scary Story illustrated by Christopher Lyles ISBN 9781404855175 Show Me a Story: Writing Your Own Picture Book illustrated by Christopher Lyles ISBN 9781404853416 Sincerely Yours: Writing Your Own Letter illustrated by Christopher Lyles ISBN 9781404853386 Words, Wit, and Wonder: Writing Your Own Poem illustrated by Christopher Lyles ISBN 9781404853447 Awards Distinguished Achievement Award, American Educational Publishers, 2010



			Ways to Say It series Picture Window Books, 2011 grades 2 to 4 Even if you're as sharp as a tack, the English language can be confusing! From ants in your pants to talking turkey, this silly and entertaining set will engage readers, while teaching them about various figures of speech. Stubborn as a Mule and Other Silly Similes illustrated by Adam Watkins ISBN 978-1404862715 Awards & Recognition 2011 Book of Note, The Tri State Young Adult Review Committee (Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey) You're Toast and other Metaphors We Adore illustrated by Donald Wu ISBN 978-1404862708 Talking Turkey and Other Clichés We Say illustrated by Adam Watkins ISBN 978-1404862722 She Sells Seashells and Other Tricky Tongue Twisters illustrated by Donald Wu ISBN 978-1404862739



			Ready! Set! Count! series illustrated by Ronnie Rooney Child’s World, 2010 ages 4 to 7 Ready, Set, Count! teaches readers numbers one through ten by exploring fictional towns based on each number. With colorful artwork, hilarious characters, and fun number games, these books make counting a blast! Six Town ISBN 9781602535039 Seven Town ISBN 9781602535022 Eight Town ISBN 9781602534971 Ten Town ISBN 9781602535046

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