Kitty Griffin
I found Betsy's story on the Outer Banks of North Carolina

From the Observer-Reporter 9.26.10 "Books Provide Kids with Examples of Determination, Courage"
For more than 200 years, an oral tradition has been repeated of one brave girl and her pony who helped change the course of American history. According to the legend, 16-year-old Betsy Dowdy wanted her freedom from England just like the other colonists in 1775.
When word arrived one evening that the Redcoats were on their way, the men said it was too dark and dangerous to make the long trip to alert General Skinner and get help. Betsy knew she couldn't stop King George, or serve as a soldier, but she was as good a rider as anyone, and her pony, Bess, could outrun any horse.
So, Betsy took the mission upon herself, riding 50 miles to reach General Skinner's camp. As the legend goes, Betsy's message was received in time, ultimately resulting in victory by the colonial solderis against the might British army.
A story of courage and determination, "The Ride" delivers in every way.

Sometimes Betsy felt as lonely as a ghost crab skittering along the sand.

A starred review from "Publisher's Weekly" A glowing review from "School Library Journal" and a Junior Library Guild Selection



Clementine Sweet is on the loose! Kirkus, "..young readers will simply read a tale that will make them smile." Booklist, "Children looking for a heroine who takes matters into her own hands--make that feet, too--will find her here." SLJ, "Used as an introduction to the tale-tale genre or for just plain fun, this will be an enegetic addition to storytimes." Selected by the Children's Book Committee at Bank Street College as one of the best books of the year. (2005)

Yee Haw!

Cowboy Sam
Starred Review in Publisher's Weekly
*"Caballero wannabes will get a bigger-than-Texas bang out of Griffin & Comb's slangy, twangy debut...Rootin'-tootin' boot-scootin' fun, beginning to end."

www.mikewohnoutka.com
www.kathycombs.com

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Route 19 Writers is a group of mostly children's writers, but we also have folks with screenwriting, short story writing, newspaper work, and grown up writing. We share our work on-line and have business meetings every two weeks.
A group you can lean on is important for a writer. Writing is a lonely task so having ears to listen can help you become a better writer.

"The Ride: The Legend of Betsy Dowdy"

Sometimes stories start in the quietest of places.
That's what happened with Betsy.
We decided to take a family vacation on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. While there I did what I always do, find a local bookstore. I picked up a couple books on the history and biology of the region, and I also found a book of North Carolina legends. Tucked away on just two pages I found the story of Betsy Dowdy. How surprised I was to find this story of this brave girl. As a history teacher I was delighted. YAY! A story about a girl being a hero during the American Revolution. Someone other than The Founding Fathers! (Not that I don't admire them).
There were two middle-grade fiction books that had been done, but no picture books.
I just knew this had the potential to be a wonderful picture book.
When Marjorie Priceman's illustrations were sent to me, I knew it'd all come together.

Writers are curious people. If we come across a stone we wonder, how did that stone get here? And what might be under it? How heavy is it?

Writers are full of questions. Sometimes we find answers. Sometimes we make up the answers. But it always starts with a question.
Who. What. When. Where. Why.



How do you know if what you've found is a good story?

If the character stays with you.

Sometimes, I think, wow, this would make a great story. But what I've found isn't a story, it's an incident.

so how do I sort through? My imagination is a stove top. There are two burners on the front row. Each of those is a work-in-progress. If I come across an interesting idea it gets put into a pot and put on a back burner. But the lid is on. I'm allowed to take off the lid and give things a stir, but I have to focus on my two front burners.


A trip to Ireland now has it's own row of pots on burners!

The luck of the Irish--if you're Irish, you're lucky enough!

Everywhere I looked I could see a story.

Selected Works

A middle-grade fantasy, 413 pages
Your brother forgives everyone, even Papa who left you in the woods to die, you forgive no one, not even yourself.
contemporary fantasy/supernatural YA
What happens when you find yourself at St. Peter's Fresh Air Institute
Set in 1952 with flying saucers
Middle-grade novel 160 pages