Author Spotlight: Sally M. Keehn

Photo Credit: Sally M. Keehn official site*

Sally M. Keehn grew up the only girl among three "loud and boisterous" brothers, one of whom is her twin. Due to her father's Naval officer status, by the time she was eleven years old, Mrs. Keehn had lived in England, California, Rhode Island, Virginia and Maryland. When her father retired from the service, the family moved to her grandfather's farm near Annapolis, MD.

She earned her B.A. in English from Hood College in 1969, then went to work for the American Red Cross in their S.R.A.O. program (Supplemental Recreational Activities Overseas) in South Korea, working with the American troops stationed there, as well as doing volunteer work in the Korean community.

Following this, Mrs. Keehn made the decision to become a Young Adult Librarian, and prepared by attending Drexel School Of Library Science from 1971-72. It was during this time that she met David Keehn, whom she married in 1972. She then served as Young Adult Librarian (1972-75) and part-time reference librarian (1975-79) in Severna Park, Maryland. 

In 1979, her husband's work as an attorney brought them to Pennsylvania, where she found work as a part-time and volunteer reference librarian at Parkland Community Library (1980-91). She also was a part-time tour guide for the Lehigh County Historical Society (1985-86).

Mrs. Keehn began her freelance writing career in 1981. By 1982, her first book, Hexcursions: Daytripping in and Around Pennsylvania's Dutch Country (co-written with her husband) was published. It was while researching for Hexcursions that she came across part of a story that inspired her first book for young people: I Am Regina (1991). From there, she has gone on to publish five other titles for young readers, the most recent being Magpie Gabbard and the Quest for the Buried Moon (2007). Mrs. Keehn says that her novels are often "...inspired by a historical event or story. However, as the main character develops, the story changes and the plot evolves."

Born on August 11, 1947, in London, England (where her father was stationed at the time), Sally M. Keehn now lives in Allentown, Pennsylvania with her husband and two daughters.

Sources:
More About Sally - author official site*
More About Sally: The Work - author official site*
Follow-Up Interview with Author Sally Keehn, by Debbi Michiko Florence
Keehn, Sally M. (Miller) - bio prepared by Erin Russell, Fall 2005
Sally M. Keehn - Answers.com
Sally M. Keehn - Scholastic.com
About Sally M. Keehn - Penguingroup.com 

*As of September 1, 2012, Ms Keehn's website appears to be offline or is otherwise unavailable, so these starred links no longer work. If this changes, I'll update here again.