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MICHELE C HOLLOW
USA
'If you want to learn about the future, look to the past. That’s what a paleontologist does. Understanding why the dinosaurs died out millions of years ago and why some animals change and adapt teach us about the present and beyond. Paleontologists are a curious bunch; so are journalists.
I work as a journalist and recently wrote a book about Mary Anning. She’s known in many circles as the “Mother of Paleontology.” At age 12, back in 1811 in the seaside town of Lyme Regis, UK, Mary unearthed a 17-foot long ichthyosaurus. The men in the London Geological Society called her a fraud. They said Mary had four strikes against her: 1. She was female. 2. She was 12. 3. She came from a poor family. 4. She was self-educated. At the time, most people in the UK had never seen such a creature. Determined to prove that her discovery was real, she set out to educate the doubters.
As a journalist, I love learning about ordinary people who do extraordinary acts. I’ve written about people who train detection dogs to sniff out environmental injustice, how others use music to heal, and how a toxic area close to New York City transformed into a restored home for birds, fish, and hikers. If you doubt, like I did, that places are too long gone to be revitalized, read this story. Having the privilege of interviewing people who work for the betterment of our planet makes telling their stories joyous. I felt fortunate finding out about Mary Anning. The researchers at the Lyme Regis Museum shared Mary’s history with me, which enabled me to write a book about her.
My book, Jurassic Girl: The Adventures of Mary Anning is for middle grade readers. I thought they would enjoy learning about Mary’s spunk, her discoveries, and her perseverance despite those who stood in her way. Mary triumphed. I approached writing the book as a journalist. I asked the researchers at the Lyme Regis Museum lots of questions. The museum has a Mary Anning wing. I read a few books about Mary and wrote the book as historical fiction. Everything in the book happened. I made up the dialogue to move the story along.
Moving from journalist to author took patience on my part. I spent two years researching, writing, and rewriting. I also found two good writer friends who critiqued the story. If you are reading this and want to write a book, I highly suggest joining a writers’ group where you can share your work. Find a topic that excites you. For me it was paleontology and Mary Anning.'
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Further info about Michele's book is here.
