Greetings everyone!

I was the first born child, raised in small town Iowa. To have someone to play with I created an imaginary playmate, Pickens. But Picken was short lived when my sister was born two years later. 
 
As a teen, I did alot of babysitting. To entertain children, I made story books which I wrote and illustrated. A family friend, read my books to her second grade class. They were goofy stories about a talking Liberty Bell and a peanut stealing elephant. My intererst in children's books began.


I majored in art (illustration) in college. For one project I wrote and illustrated “Super Oreo,” a dark brown covered, round book with white pages. I graduated with my BFA from the University of Kansas. I worked as a graphic designer creating brochures and logos for many years. But I always wanted to write and illustrate for children. In 2001 I decided to fulfill that dream by taking children's literature classes.

In 2003 my first non-fiction article was published in "Nature Friends" magazine. Then my first children's illustrations were published in Wee Ones magazine in July 2004. 

I use unusual “fun facts” in my non-fiction articles, hoping kids think it’s interesting too. Several of my non-fiction articles are/will be published in "Appleseeds," "Boy's Quest," "Cousteau Kids," "Discovery Trails," "FACES, "Family Fun," "Highlights," "Hopscotch," Nature Friends," "Odyssey" and "Wee Ones" children's magazines.  

I have three non-fiction children's books due out in 2008. "Cash Crop to Cash Cow-The History of Tobacco and Smoking in America" published by Mason Crest. And "Easy Origami" and "Not-Quite-So-Easy Origami" by Capstone.

I live in Iowa with my husband and two children. I work as a graphic designer for a local newspaper. In my spare time I enjoy traveling, vegetable gardening, walking, baking, and doing arts & crafts. 

I'm a member of the SCBWI and serve as the NW Iowa SCBWI chairman. I completed the Institute of Children's Literature course in 2001. I attended Highlights' 2003 Writer's Workshop and the Chicago Art Institute Children's Illustration workshop in 2004.

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” - Pablo Picasso

To contact me, email: MMeinking@hotmail.com