© Linda Joy Singleton 2011
Judy Bolton, Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, Beverly Gray, Penny Parker...
These are some of the girls I grew up with—all fictional sleuths who lived exciting adventures
within the pages of my favorite books.
The first Judy Bolton mystery (by Margaret Sutton) I read was NAME ON THE BRACELET. I
still have this worn copy, which belonged to my mother, in my 4,000+ series book collection. I
also read Nancy Drew, which were much easier to find. My parents would take me to
bookstores and find more mysteries for me to read.
When I was 13, I was such a huge fan of Judy and Nancy that I wrote a fan letter to each
author. I never heard from Carolyn Keene who wasn’t a real person anyway, but a group of
writers penning under this pseudonym. But I did hear from Margaret Sutton—and I was SO
excited. I carried that letter all around school and showed all my friends. I met Margaret four
years later when I graduated high school. For thirty years I shared a friendship with her that
I’ll always value.
In 1985, while my mother and I were visiting Margaret in Berkeley, CA, she told me about a
group of fans who had started a newsletter to discuss Judy Bolton . I joined immediately and
started writing articles for The Whispered Watchword. The newsletter went on to discuss
other girl series and I discovered new series like Beany Malone, Anne of Green Gables, Betsy
Tacy, Pollyanna, Doris Fein, Susan Sand, Linda Carlton and many more.
I also found myself with a unique opportunity to write another Judy Bolton with Margaret
Sutton. She started THE TALKING SNOWMAN and I finished it. She edited it and I made the
changes, adding a courtroom scene based on an experience she had as a juror in Berkeley,
CA. The first edition sold out and a second edition was created with a new cover plus a short
story.
For information on Judy Bolton and links to other series sites go to:
www.JudyBolton.com
© Linda Joy Singleton 2011
Judy Bolton, Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, Beverly Gray, Penny Parker...
These are some of the girls I grew up with—all fictional sleuths who lived exciting adventures
within the pages of my favorite books.
The first Judy Bolton mystery (by Margaret Sutton) I read was NAME ON THE BRACELET. I
still have this worn copy, which belonged to my mother, in my 4,000+ series book collection. I
also read Nancy Drew, which were much easier to find. My parents would take me to
bookstores and find more mysteries for me to read.
When I was 13, I was such a huge fan of Judy and Nancy that I wrote a fan letter to each
author. I never heard from Carolyn Keene who wasn’t a real person anyway, but a group of
writers penning under this pseudonym. But I did hear from Margaret Sutton—and I was SO
excited. I carried that letter all around school and showed all my friends. I met Margaret four
years later when I graduated high school. For thirty years I shared a friendship with her that
I’ll always value.
In 1985, while my mother and I were visiting Margaret in Berkeley, CA, she told me about a
group of fans who had started a newsletter to discuss Judy Bolton . I joined immediately and
started writing articles for The Whispered Watchword. The newsletter went on to discuss
other girl series and I discovered new series like Beany Malone, Anne of Green Gables, Betsy
Tacy, Pollyanna, Doris Fein, Susan Sand, Linda Carlton and many more.
I also found myself with a unique opportunity to write another Judy Bolton with Margaret
Sutton. She started THE TALKING SNOWMAN and I finished it. She edited it and I made the
changes, adding a courtroom scene based on an experience she had as a juror in Berkeley,
CA. The first edition sold out and a second edition was created with a new cover plus a short
story.
For information on Judy Bolton and links to other series sites go to:
www.JudyBolton.com
