Dubois, Muriel L. 1950-

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Dubois, Muriel L. 1950-

PERSONAL:

Born June 3, 1950, in Manchester, NH; daughter of Roger J. (an electrician) and Laurette E. (a homemaker) Major; married Richard E. Dubois (a certified public accountant and business executive), April 25, 1975 (died May 18, 2003); children: Aimée B., Craig R., Elise M. Ethnicity: "White." Education: Plymouth State College (now University), B.S., 1972; Vermont College, M.F.A., 2001. Politics: Independent. Religion: Roman Catholic.

ADDRESSES:

Office—Box 156, 7 Colby Ct., Unit 7, Bedford, NH 03110. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Freelance writer.

WRITINGS:

FOR CHILDREN

Abenaki Captive (historical fiction), CarolRhoda Books (Minneapolis, MN), 1994.

Alaska Facts and Symbols, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2000.

Maryland Facts and Symbols, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2000.

New Hampshire Facts and Symbols, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2000.

Wyoming Facts and Symbols, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2000.

I Like Animals, What Can I Be?, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2001.

I Like Computers, What Can I Be?, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2001.

I Like Music, What Can I Be?, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2001.

I Like Sports, What Can I Be?, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2001.

Argentina, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2001.

Dominican Republic, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2001.

Ethiopia, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2001.

Pro Stock Cars, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2002.

Snowmobiles, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2002.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2002.

The Washington Monument, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2002.

Out and About at the Firehouse, Picture Window Books (Minneapolis, MN), 2002.

John Adams, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2003.

Helen Keller, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2003.

Rosa Parks, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2003.

The U.S. Senate, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2004.

The U.S. House of Representatives, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2004.

The U.S. Supreme Court, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2004.

The U.S. Presidency, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2004.

Ancient Rome, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2004.

(With Kathleen W. Deady) Ancient China, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2004.

Cuba, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2005.

Liberia, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2005.

Peru, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2005.

Connecticut, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2005.

Delaware, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2005.

New Jersey, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2005.

Virginia, Gareth Stevens (Milwaukee, WI), 2005.

Michigan, Gareth Stevens (Milwaukee, WI), 2005.

For My Countrywomen: The Life of Sarah Josepha Hale, Apprentice Shop Books (Bedford, NH), 2006.

SIDELIGHTS:

Muriel L. Dubois told CA: "While I enjoy the creative aspect of the writing life, I am most fascinated by digging for facts. All of my writing, including my fiction, is based on fact. Often, research for one topic leads to information I can use in another book.

"I read a great number and genres of literature, but I favor nonfiction, particularly biography. As I write for children, many of my favorite authors are also children's book authors. These include Lois Lowry, J.K. Rowling, Avi, and Beverly Cleary. My favorite writers of adult literature include David McCullough, Amy Tan, and Dan Brown. My earliest influence was the Newbery-winning book, Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates. This historical novel proved how basic facts could become unforgettable stories.

"I generally write five to six days a week from nine o'clock in the morning or so until one o'clock or two o'clock in the afternoon. I reserve afternoons for appointments."

"I don't always pick the topics about which I've written, but each new topic—whether it is NASCAR racing or ancient Rome—has opened my mind and, I hope, the minds of the children who are my readers."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, July, 1994, Julie Corsaro, review of Abenaki Captive, p. 1936; June 1, 2000, Ilene Cooper, review of New Hampshire Facts and Symbols, p. 1901.

School Library Journal, October, 2000, Dona J. Helmer, review of Alaska Facts and Symbols, p. 146; February, 2001, Roxanne Burg, review of I Like Music, What Can I Be? and I Like Sports, What Can I Be?, p. 110; April, 2004, Jennifer England, review of The U.S. House of Representatives, The U.S. Senate, and The U.S. Presidency, p. 131.