Meet
Anna Myers


      Middle Grade & Young Adult Author

Introduction

Anna Myers claims to have been born at Pinky George’s Liquor Store in Whiteface, Texas, but she admits her birth was not as racy as it sounds.  When her father was  transferred from Oklahoma to work in the oilfields where there was not enough housing to accommodate the boom in population, the family lived for a while in a small house that had once housed Pinky George’s establishment. The sign was still embedded in the side of the house.  She also enjoys stating that she was married at Woodstock, but if you press her, she will tell the rest of the story.  

Background

Anna published  her first story before she learned to write, dictating her manuscript to one of her older sisters. She chose men’s action adventure as her genre and titled it The Long Bearded Man. The venture was a commercial success because she charged each of her older siblings, including the one who wrote it down for her, a quarter a piece to read it. There were five of them, and $1.25 was big money. She decided right then to be a writer.

Books

Myers is the author of many, many novels for young people, all published by Walker Books  of New York. Most of her books are historical fiction. At one point, her editor, knowing she had taught 8^th graders, said, “Let’s do something different. Write something funny about middle school.” Anna said, “Emily, you weren’t there. It wasn’t funny,” but she did write two contemporary humor stories about 8^th graders.  

Anna’s awards include four Oklahoma Book Awards, New York Public Library’s Best Books for the Teenaged, New York Public Library’s Best 100 Books to Read and Share, Bank Street College’s Best Children’s Books, Parent Choice Awards, Crown Award by Christian Schools, ALA Quick Pick List, Independent Book Sellers Pick of the List, three Gamma State Author Awards, and inclusion more than twenty times on children’s choice lists for various states.

Speaking

Anna’s experience in the classroom makes her a successful speaker for all ages.  During a presentation, she discusses her books, her writing methods, and gives students hints for their own writing.  She's also extremely well-known for her signature 'book talks', where she dresses in costume, performing as characters from her books.

She has been a keynote speaker for the New York Library Association.  She has addressed The American Library Association, Texas Library Association, Tennessee Library Association, Missouri Library Association, International Reading Association, South Carolina  Reading Association, Arkansas Reading Association, Texas Reading Association, and various other teacher and writer groups. 

Website & Contact Information
Website: annamyers.info    
Email:  anna_author@yahoo.com   
Brochure:  Anna Myers Brochure

 

OCAI: What gave you the idea for your new young adult novel, Time of the Witches?