MARCIE ABOFF

WHY I LIKE TO WRITE...

I've always loved a good story.

When I was growing up, Judy Blume was one of my favorite authors. I felt so connected to her characters, I felt she wrote her stories just for me. I loved the series All of a Kind Family, about 5 sisters and their baby brother growing up at the turn of the century. I remember a fantasy book called The Changeling that took me to a different world, so different from anything I've ever known, but as I read it, the story felt so real and so true.

One of my favorite short story authors is O. Henry. I love the twist ending. My favorite short story is called The Last Leaf. It is not one of his more well-known stories, but it's both happy and sad with great irony and an "ah, hah" ending. I still love that irony, and many of my own stories have that twist ending.

SCHOOL DAYS ...

I grew up in 1970's with my mom, dad, brother and sister in New Jersey. I remember writing stories and poems in elementary school - and I really loved it. I wrote a novel in 5th grade (not published.) I was editor-in-chief of my high school newspaper, but my favorite class was creative writing.

I attended Arizona State University where I broadened my writing interests with classes in journalism and broadcasting. I interned at the local PBS station on campus.

THE 'REAL' WORLD...

After college, my first 'real job' was as a feature writer for a daily newspaper in Escondido, California. I had my own column called 'Our Town' and I interviewed and wrote about local people who were doing special things in the community.

I also worked as a catalog copywriter for an advertising specialty firm that sold imprinted pens, cups, and shirts, etc. I wrote about these products to make them sound as interesting as possible (not always an easy task -how many wonderful things can you say about a plastic floppy keychain? - in a choice of 20 different colors and three different sizes?!)

MY FIRST PUBLISHED STORY...

I moved back to New Jersey after I had my first child. Then I had more time to concentrate on my real writing passion - children's books and short stories.

My first paid published story was included in a small children's specialty magazine. That first published short story, The Gift, is still one of my favorites.

TODAY...

And now I have several published picture books,
beginning readers, chapter books and activity books. My short stories have been featured in a variety of children's magazines.

I am a member of the Rutgers University Council on Children's Literature, The Authors Guild, and the Society of Children's Book Writer's and Illustrator's.

I have three active teenagers and also work at a state university. When my days are busy, and the pressure is on, I can think of my stories - one in progess - or one almost finished - or one just forming in my head, and I remember why I enjoy writing so much in the first place!