cdbuckman@austin.rr.com

My Nebraska teaching certificate stated that I was qualified to teach K through 12, so I tried them all before I ended my teaching career as a librarian. I’d been offered a book contract when I retired, and I planned to become rich and famous writing poetry, short stories and young adult novels. The contract never arrived, but another company, St. Mary’s Press, published the book, Signs and Wonders From Our Journals (1998), and a second young adult novel, Neighbors and Traitors (2000). Neither rich nor famous, I continue to write, and my highly critical grandchildren praise some of my work. My SCBWI critique group is more supportive. In 2001, St. Mary’s Press published one of my stories in a short story collection. My short story, "Jared to the Rescue," will appear in the September 2006 issue of Highlights Magazine.

When I’m not writing, I lead tours at the LBJ Library, snow ski and travel with my husband Bruce, and play with my grandchildren. I also visit Austin elementary schools to give poetry programs and to support writing activities.