Visits

  PREPARATION FOR THE VISIT: It is helpful if, before the visit, kids can be made aware of my books. If the teachers would consider reading one of them to their class beforehand, even better. In the “FOR TEACHERS” section of my website are discussion questions and/or activities for each of my books. Having the kids come up with a few pre-prepared questions always sparked lively and fun discussions, and I highly recommend it. 

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Short Author Bio:

Kathleen Benner Duble had sixteen car accidents before she was twenty-one.  Being an at-home writer keeps her from hitting the road (or anyone else)!  She is the author of nine books for children.  Kathleen loves digging for unique historical fiction plotlines and encouraging students and lovers of books to look for great stories right in their own backyard! 

Kathleen Benner Duble grew up surrounded by very talented individuals. Her father was a jet pilot in the Pittsburgh Air National Guard, and her sister, Lauren, went on to receive her wings and become a tanker pilot for the MAINEiacs in Bangor, Maine. Because Kathleen had sixteen car accidents before she was twenty-one, Kathleen’s father would not let her try her hand at flying. This was probably a very good decision.

Kathleen’s mother and younger sister, Mara, were both highly successful executives, fighting for spots in a mostly male-dominated corporate world. As Kathleen hated confrontations of any kind, this was not a wise choice of career for her either.

Her family despaired. What to do with a girl who barely looked up from the book she was reading to explore the world? Send her to college!

Kathleen graduated cum laude from Miami University, Ohio in 1980 (an easy task as most of college involves reading). She walked out with a diploma and a degree in Creative Writing. At last, she had found her calling.

But what do you write about when you’ve spent your whole life with your nose buried in a book? Kathleen began to look around. And for once, instead of princes and princesses and tales of adventure, she saw her own family right there in front of her with their unique stories to tell. Kathleen got to work.

In February 1999, she had a short story published in Highlights Magazine for Children, a story about a botched music recital with her sister. Her first book, Bridging Beyond, a young adult novel, about her grandmother, came out in May of 2002 and was an IRA Notable Honor Book. Pilot Mom, again about her sister, came out in May of 2003 from Charlesbridge Publishing. Her third book, The Sacrifice, a story about an ancestor discovered by her father, was released in October of 2005 by Margaret K. McElderry. This middle grade novel was a Junior Library Guild Selection, received a starred review from Booklist, was a 2005/2006 Book Sense Pick, a Jefferson Cup Noteworthy book, and an ALA BBYA nominee. It is also a Louisiana Reader’s Choice nominee, a Keystone State Award nominee, a William Allen White nominee, a Nevada State Reader’s Choice nominee, a Virginia Reader’s Choice nominee, a Great Stone Face nominee, a Sunshine State Young Adult nominee and a Massachusetts Children’s Book Award nominee.

In 1983, she married her very smart and talented husband and began to steal from him. Hearts Of Iron, about his family’s summer place, was released in October of 2006 from Margaret K. McElderry. It was a Winter Book Sense Pick and a 2007 IRA Teacher’s Choice.

In Bravo, Zulu Samantha! from Peachtree Publishing, Kathleen turned once again to her father to create the character of the crotchety old grandfather who is miffed at being forced to retire from the Air Force. Her father was an excellent role model! Bravo Zulu, Samantha! was an Agatha Award nominee, a Maine Student Book Award nominee and a Society of Librarian’s International Book Award Honor Book for Language Arts: K-6 novels.

In March 2008, Quest, a Cybils award nominee and a Boston Author’s highly recommended book, was released from Margaret K. McElderry. This book tells the story of Henry Hudson from four points of view, Hudson’s seventeen-year-old son, his girlfriend (a spy), his younger brother and one of the men who mutinied against Hudson. Kathleen found this story while reading to her daughters and waiting for the school bus.

In July 2008, The Story of the Samson, a NCSS Notable Trade Book, was published by Charlesbridge Publishing. The amazing adventures of this little boat were discovered by Kathleen while on a trip to Nova Scotia with her parents.

Phantoms in the Snow, her book from Scholastic that was released in 2011, tells the story of the Tenth Mountain Division (they were called Phantoms because they dressed all in white) and Noah Garrett, an orphaned pacifist boy who is sent to live with the tenth’s heroic soldiers. Kathleen found this story while trying to learn to ski (a skill she has still not managed to acquire) and by meeting a real live Phantom herself.

In Madame Tussaud’s Apprentice, from Merit Press, Kathleen explores the French Revolution from the point of view of the famous wax figure maker of the time. It was tough having to do her research for this book in Paris!

In her newest book, The Root of Magic, from Delacorte, Kathleen delved into the age old question:  “Are we in charge of our lives or is our life pre-planned for us?”  Fate versus free will is something that has interested her greatly, and she had a fun time adding a little magic as she dug deep into this conundrum.

In 1987, she became a mom – her very favorite job! And luckily, she got the job a second time in 1990. She is currently working on stealing stories from her two teenage girls, who live far more daring and exciting lives of intrigue and deception than Kathleen does.

Kathleen lives in Massachusetts with her wonderful husband and two fabulous girls. They all love to travel, but none of them are pilots. You can read more about Kathleen and her work on this website and you can also schedule a visit

           ROOT OF MAGIC

           MADAME TUSSAUD’S APPRENTICE, PHANTOMS IN THE SNOW

           BRAVO, ZULU, SAMANTHA!:  LISA ROWE AT 800-241-0113 X112

QUEST, HEARTS OF IRON AND THE SACRIFICE:

            CUSTOMER SERVICE:  1-800-976-1726

            IF PROBLEMS, PLEASE CONTACT JODIE COHEN AT

                        212-698-7432

            PILOT MOM: 800-225-3214

BRIDGING BEYOND:  PLEASE EMAIL ME