Carolyn Keene

This summer I became a HUGE Nancy Drew fan. The way that Nancy would manage to get herself out of tough situations really amazed me, even though I knew it was fiction. Then I discovered that Carolyn Keene was not one person, but many. As it turned out, Edward Stratemeyer hired multiple ghostwriters to write the Nancy Drew series. The first “Carolyn Keene” was Mildred Wirt Benson. Considering that I want to be writer, the fact that Mildred wrote such a classic series makes her a idol to me. Inspiration is a very common and loved trait in a hero. Edward is also partly a hero because he wrote the outlines for the story. Since they seemed to come up with so many interesting stories together, they both inspire me to write every day.

Mildred Wirt Benson

Both Edward and Mildred managed to begin this story. Mildred published her first book at the age of 14. She was also the first woman to get a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Iowa. Mildred published many books, such as “The Toledo Times”, and “The Toledo Blade”. She was responsible for the first 23 out of 25 Nancy Drew books, which, arguably, were the best books in the series. Mildred was a confident writer, which is basically something I want to be. She was also said to be like Nancy Drew in many ways. In her sixties, Mildred got both her pilot’s and commercial license, showing that she really lived an exciting life, like Nancy Drew. As much as I could thank Mildred, Edward Stratemeyer was also a main part in the business writing.

Edward Statemeyer

Edward Stratemeyer also is a main hero involved in the Carolyn writing process. He was the man who came up with the outlines of the story, and he would give these to the ghostwriters. Edward went under the name of Carolyn Keene with multiple children’s stories, such as the “Hardy Boys”. He kept the real identity of Carolyn Keene a secret. If it weren’t for Edward Stratemeyer Nancy Drew wouldn’t exist!

Even though Carolyn Keene was multiple people over the years “she” still passed along the writing styles and inspired me to become a writer. As Linda Elerbee once said, ”If you believe in your heart that you are right, you must fight with all your might to do it your way. Only dead fish swim with the stream all the time.” Carolyn Keene, who ever “she” may be: Thank you!

Sources

“Mildred Wirt Benson and Edward Stratemeyer was Carolyn Keene.” About.com. The New York Times Company. ©2009. 3/5/09 http://childrensbooks.about.com/cs/authorsillustrato/a/nancydrew.htm

“Nancy Drew: Role model toward girls”The University Of Iowa Libraries. The University of Iowa. © 2007. 3/5/09 http://digital.lib.uiowa.edu/mwb/

“Linda Ellerbee’s Quote” Brainyquotes.com. Google 2009. 3/9/09 http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/l/linda_ellerbee.html

Pictures:

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/3/15435.jpg http://wpcontent.answers.com/wikipedia/en/1/12/Stratemeyeredward.jpg