Growing up in Attleboro, Mass., during the depression years, Linda Boyden began writing as a child. She made paper dolls and wrote elaborate stories for them to act out. Boyden was the only girl in the family with two brothers. Boyden has been writing professionally for the past 54 years and has sold two books among the hundreds of manuscripts she has written.
"You have to look at the market and to find a time that one of the books will fit and an age group that will buy it," said Boyden. "It can be a bit tricky at times."
The books that Boyden has published are "Blue Roses," and "Pow Wow's Coming." The books were published in 2002 and 2007 respectively. Boyden's books have received many awards including the New Voices Award, by Lee and Low Books, which is awarded each year, Book of the Year by Word Craft Circle, which is a Native American Writing Organization in 2003, and the 2003 Paterson Prize.
Boyden's books have also been on the recommended list of the "National Organization of Librarians."
Boyden both wrote and illustrated "Pow Wow's Coming." The book tells younger readers about pow wows and the ceremonial dress that is worn. Both "Blue Roses" and "Pow Wow's Coming" were written while Boyden was living near Makawao on the island of Maui, Hawaii.
While living in Hawaii, Boyden felt for the first time that she had become "a real writer."
Boyden has been teaching schoolchildren for the past 39 years, working as a home school teacher and a Gifted and Talented Education teacher working with preschool through eighth grade children excluding fourth graders.
Boyden participates in story-telling sessions at local schools and local libraries. She also enjoys working with students and leading them to literacy.
"Seeing them begin to learn to read and the look on their face when they do is like magic," said Boyden.
Boyden moved to Shasta County from the island of Maui in 2004. She is a 1966 graduate of Bishop Franklin High School in Attleboro, Mass. After high school, she attended Farmingham State University in Farmingham, Mass., earning a bachelor's degree in primary education in 1970. Boyden also earned a master's degree in gifted and talented education from the University of Virginia at Charlottesville in 1992. Boyden has been married to her husband John for the past 22 years. They have five children and eight grandchildren. In her spare time, Boyden enjoys reading, writing and spending time with her grandchildren.
Name: Linda Boyden.
Born where and when: Attleboro, Mass., 1948.
Occupation: Author, illustrator, story teller, GATE teacher and home school teacher.
Marital Status: Married to photographer John Boyden for 22 years.
Family: Jon Boyden Jr., 46, Luanne Baca, 44, Rachel Lane, 36, Eamon Landon, 33, Maeve Landon, 31, five grandsons and three granddaughters.
Pets: My grandchildren.
My worst job: Being a change girl at the Nugget Casino in Sparks, Nev. (not the big casino).
My first job: Teaching first grade in Baltimore, Md.
In my spare time, I: Write and read.
My favorite book: I have so many. But I have read Jane Eyre every single year since I was 14 years old.
My favorite movie: Dr. Zhivago.
My favorite recording artist: Johnny Cash.
My dream car: Lola, my Corolla, she's my little bumper car.
My friends like me because: I'm a funny person who is a good listener.
If stranded on a deserted island, I would want: Books, coffee, a coffee maker, and which ever of my kids and grand kids would like to come.
The one thing in life I've learned is: To believe in my dreams.
The best advice my parents gave me: You will go to college.
My most embarrassing moment: The list is endless.
My most irrational act: Moving to Nevada in 1972. It was a wonderful decision.
My most valued material possession: The ring my dad made me when I turned 10.
What I like best about the North State: The mountains and being close to many of my kids.
My hero is: Beethoven.
My pet peeve is: Ignorance.
My fantasy is: Selling all of the books I have written and doing it tomorrow.
If I could change one thing about myself, I would: Like to have a stronger left brain, and be able to understand math.
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©2009 The E.W. Scripps Co.