Robyn Hood Black - - children's author

Robyn Hood Black (yes, that's her real name) is the author of Sir Mike, a rhyming Rookie Reader from Scholastic's Children's Press, and WOLVES, a nonfiction, interactive vault book from Intervisual Books. Her fiction has appeared in Highlights, and her poetry has appeared in Hopscotch for Girls and Berry Blue Haiku (which has also featured her artwork) and has been accepted by Ladybug. She's also been named assistant editor for Berry Blue Haiku's newest incarnation as an online journal. Two of her poems are slated to appear in Georgia Heard's upcoming anthology, The Arrow Finds Its Mark, scheduled for release in March from Roaring Brook Press. Her haiku has been accepted by several haiku journals.

Robyn began writing stories and drawing pictures while growing up in Orlando, Florida. Editor of her elementary school newspaper, she later graduated cum laude as a Phi Beta Kappa English major from Furman University.

Her smartest move was getting involved with the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. She coordinated the 2007, 2008 and 2009 Springmingle, the SCBWI Southern Breeze spring conference in Atlanta. She will reprise this role for 2012 and 2013, and she coordinated a poetry retreat featuring Rebecca Kai Dotlich in June 2011. Robyn is thankful for great critique group friends who are insightful, fun, and supportive. And they make yummy food.

Robyn taught middle school English for two years before diving into writing full-time with the publication of Sir Mike. She now enjoys sharing her passions for writing and art through school visits and presenatations for all ages in community, festival, and professional settings.

She and her husband of 27 years are proud parents of a daughter and son, both teenagers. As animal-loving vegetarians, the family shares life with a large assortment of dogs and cats. Robyn volunteers with wolves at a local wildlife preserve.

Animals, the endeavors of her children, and memories of her own childhood are primary influences in her writing and art. She thanks God for the opportunity to participate in the gifts of love and creativity.

Poring through picture books at a library or bookstore is still a favorite, magical activity. Her two favorite books on writing are Brenda Ueland's If You Want to Write and Nancy Willard's Telling Time.

"I like to share this quote from Brenda Ueland with kids and adults alike," Robyn says. "Everybody is talented, original, and has something important to say."