Jean Patrick
Children's Author

 
When I was a girl, I loved summer. Almost every afternoon, my brothers and I would watch the Chicago Cubs game on TV. We'd yell and scream and jump on the couch, cheering for our favorite players: Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, and Ron Santo.

My dream was to play second base for the Cubs. Maybe I could help them win a World Series.

But there was a problem.

Even though I could play ball as well as any of the boys in my neighborhood, I was not allowed to play Little League baseball. Why? In those days, Little League was only for boys.

I thought about disguising myself as a boy. Unfortunately, my parents were hopelessly honest. No way could I get away with a lie. However, I did get involved with other sports, such as track, cross-country, and tennis.

I also liked to read. After high school, I earned degrees in English literature from Luther College and Kansas State University. Although I read Shakespeare and all those famous writers, I still liked children's books best.

Now I'm a writer. And you know what? I'm still reading children's books.

The Girl Who Struck Out Babe Ruth

Here's how I got the idea to write The Girl Who Struck Out Babe Ruth:

A few years ago, I read Winning Ways, a children's book by Sue Macy. The book was full of information about women and the history of sports.

On one page, I saw a photograph of a girl throwing a baseball. The caption said that on April 2, 1931, 17-year-old Jackie Mitchell struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

Wow! I never knew that this had happened. I told an editor about it, and she asked if I would write a book about Jackie. Of course, I said, "YES!"

Writing Process

Before I could begin writing, I had to do an enormous amount of research.

Next, I had to figure out how to write the story. Would I begin the book with Jackie on the mound? Or, would I begin with Jackie signing the contract? How would I make the book interesting?

After I finished writing, my editor asked me to revise the story. I changed the beginning. I added exciting facts. I subtracted boring details. 

Believe it or not, it took three years for me to write The Girl Who Struck Out Babe Ruth!

Even though the book required lots of work, I enjoyed learning about the girl who had the talent and courage to become a great baseball player.

Your Turn

Do you like to write? Please send me an e-mail and tell me about yourself and your writing.