Iverson, Carol (L.) 1941-

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IVERSON, Carol (L.) 1941-

PERSONAL:

Born November 29, 1941, in Minneapolis, MN; daughter of Wallace R. Walters (a house builder) and Lorraine V. Walters Swenson; married Arthur C. Iverson (a guidance counselor and special-education teacher), May 20, 1961; children: Terri Jean O'Connell, Arthur C. III, Lynn Myung Iverson-Eyestone. Religion: Lutheran. Hobbies and other interests: Reading, walking, movies, games.

ADDRESSES:

Home—1158 Highland Ave., Northfield, MN 55057. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Writer.

MEMBER:

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Minnesota Christian Writers Guild, Minnesota Writers for Children.

WRITINGS:

"I BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT" SERIES

Fish Sleep with Their Eyes Open and Other Facts and Curiosities, illustrated by Jack Lindstrom, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 1990.

Hummingbirds Can Fly Backwards and Other Facts and Curiosities, illustrated by Jack Lindstrom, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 1990.

There Are Golf Balls on the Moon and Other Facts and Curiosities, illustrated by Jack Lindstrom, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 1990.

You Can't Sink in the Dead Sea and Other Facts and Curiosities, illustrated by Jack Lindstrom, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 1990.

OTHER

The Mystery of the Doll in the Window, DiskUs Publishing (Albany, IN), 2001.

Houses, Creative Education (Mankato, MN), 2002.

Also contributor of articles and short stories to periodicals, including Highlights for Children, U*S* Kids, Girls' Life, and Writer.

WORK IN PROGRESS:

Distant Shores, about a fifth-grade adopted Korean girl; Holly and the Carousel Horse, about an eleven-year-old girl who travels back in time on a carousel horse; and Luke, Me, and the Storm of the Century, about a twelve-year-old girl and her six-year-old brother "who fight against the elements of a snowstorm."

SIDELIGHTS:

Carol Iverson first published a series of humorous trivia books loosely organized by subject. Thus, Fish Sleep with Their Eyes Open and Other Facts and Curiosities contains thirty-two pages of surprising facts about birds, fish, and insects, while Hummingbirds Can Fly Backwards and Other Facts and Curiosities reveals amusing trivia about plants and animals. There Are Golf Balls on the Moon and Other Facts and Curiosities focuses on arts and entertainment trivia, while You Can't Sink in the Dead Sea and Other Facts and Curiosities relays short curious facts about human societies throughout history. Jan L. McConnell of Wilson Library Bulletin predicted that the books would be enjoyed by fans of the Guinness Book of World Records series, encouraging readers to "Fool your friends, stump your teachers." While pointing out that Iverson doesn't cite resources for her facts, a reviewer for Appraisal remarked, "this series is in the trivia book genre for entertainment and will not disappoint if considered for that purpose," and Eva Elisabeth Von Ancken of School Library Journal recommended the books for reluctant readers.

"I started writing after I married and had children," Iverson explained to CA. "I wrote for ten years off and on before I had anything published. So my advice to any aspiring writer would be to hang in there and not give up—if writing is what you really want to do.

"I am currently working on a children's novel with my Korean daughter and an adult novel with my older daughter, and having fun doing both."