Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Nancy Drew Ghostwriter Mildred Wirt Benson Tribute

Happy Birthday to Mildred Wirt Benson
Original Carolyn Keene
Author
Journalist
Adventurer
Born July 10, 1905

Here's a montage of some images of Mildred (courtesy Toledo Blade). She authored over 130 children's books, thousands of newspaper articles and columns, dozens of short stories and lived to be 96, passing away May 28, 2002 in Toledo, OH. Her legacy encompasses many facets of her life but she is most famously known for having been the first Carolyn Keene, pseudonym for the Nancy Drew series. She was just 24 when the first three Nancy Drew books were published on April 28, 1930. No one involved in the making of this series really fathomed that it would still be published today, over 80 years later.

Learn more about her at my website.

I have written a few articles about her and some of her books and series in various series zines and The Sleuth. After she passed away, I wrote an Op-Ed at the request of the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star about her and the LA Times Kids Reading Room published a piece from me during the 80th anniversary of Nancy Drew in 2010. My most lengthy article to date was published in Firsts magazine in the December 2006 issue which can be ordered here at their website. I am currently working on a book about Mildred's life and adventures.

Jenn:)

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