Beth Anderson has always been fascinated with words and language—from sound and meaning, to figurative language and point of view, to cultural and scientific aspects of language. After earning a B.A. in linguistics and a M.Ed. in reading, she taught English language learners for more than 20 years. That classroom community taught her valuable lessons as she advocated for students and encouraged them to share their voices. Surrounded by young people from all over the world, with literature as her favorite tool, Beth was fascinated by the power of books to teach, connect, and inspire.
Encouraged by her elementary school teachers, Beth carried with her the itch to write. Practicing with poems, plays and puppet shows, then stories and memoir pieces… through Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, Connecticut, Georgia, Texas, and into Colorado, that itch followed her. In 2013, she began her journey writing for children. Combining her love of writing with the joys of discovery and learning, she found her niche with narrative nonfiction and historical fiction picture books.
To Beth, writing is mining. It’s digging deep inside for special memories, emotions, and meaning. It’s burrowing into history for inspiring characters and moments that change the course of events. It’s delving into the how and why and what if, and connecting the past to the present. Then the search for just the right words begins – words that will create voice, bring characters to life, and reveal the heart of the story. Shine the light. Discover the gems. Shape and polish, polish, polish.
When she’s not writing, she might be weaving, gardening, exploring nature, or playing with her grandkids. Born and raised in Illinois, she now lives near the mountains in Colorado. Beth believes in laughter, learning, and investing in young minds. And…that truth really can be stranger than fiction.
Contact Beth via email or visit on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest.
Beth Anderson’s work is represented by Stephanie Fretwell-Hill of Red Fox Literary.
Here are some blog posts about Beth’s writing journey:
- Agents and Editors and Rejections, Oh My!
- A Day in the Life of a Children’s Writer
- Finding Help Along the Way
- Organization Optimization
- Late Bloomer Series on Lindsey McDivitt’s blog
About writing:
- Listen to Your Characters
- No Man—or Woman—Is an Island for NF Fest 2020
- Writing is Mining: Show vs Tell interview for The Wonder of Words
- Unpacking the Power of Picture Books: Bringing History to Life! (interview on Lizzie Demands a Seat and “Smelly” Kelly and His Super Senses)
- Being There: In Search of Setting on Grog Blog
- Mentor Text Talk on ReFoReMo blog
- NF Fest blog post: Lights, Camera, Action! Starring: Versatile, Vivacious Verbs
- GROG Blog post: The Power of Imagery
Podcasts!
Reading With Your Kids. I had a great conversation with Jed Doherty talking about “Smelly” Kelly and His Super Senses, Lizzie Demands a Seat!, writing for kids, teaching, leaks, stinks, stories, and more.
The Kidlit Social. My conversation with Laura Backes on the Changing Face of Picture Book Biographies
Write Space with Kirby Larson: Creatives in Conversation
You’ve Got Mel! interview
Picture Book Look: Beth Anderson, illustrator Susan Reagan and editor Carolyn Yoder talk about REVOLUTIONARY PRUDENCE WRIGHT
A NOTE ON MY BLOG:
Instead of book reviews, I post recommendations. I choose books based on their fit with my focus and blog. I reserve the right to feature only those selections which meet my personal criteria. I do not accept money for reviews. I also invite guests to share specific aspects and experiences from their writing and publishing process that serve book creators, teachers, and students.
Beth Anderson, Children's Writer 