Parr, Ann 1943-

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PARR, Ann 1943-

(Danny Parr)

PERSONAL: Born August 3, 1943, in Clay Center, KS; daughter of Harvey (a grocer) and Alice (a homemaker; maiden name, Berggren) Oetinger; married Jack Parr (a business owner and consultant), September 26, 1978; children: Cynda Zurfluh, Robyn Zurfluh. Education: Emporia State University, B.M.E., 1965; attended Institute of Children's Literature, 1990-99; attended Vermont College, beginning 2002. Religion: Presbyterian.

ADDRESSES: Home—926 Pheasant Run, Lindsborg, KS 67456. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER: Elementary music educator, 1965-68; program developer and trainer, 1976—; author.

MEMBER: Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Habitat for Humanity.

WRITINGS:

AS DANNY PARR

Lowriders, Chelsea House (Philadelphia, PA), 2001.

Extreme In-line Skating Moves, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2001.

Extreme Bicycle Stunt Riding Moves, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2001.

Dirt Bikes, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2002.

OTHER

Also author, with husband Jack Parr, of We Care: An Education Effectiveness Process, Jack Parr Associates (Salina, KS), 1990.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Jazz from the Inside Out; Nighttime Friends: A Book about Dreams.

SIDELIGHTS: Writing under the pseudonym Danny Parr, Ann Parr has penned several nonfiction books about sports and hobbies that often interest adolescent males. In Lowriders, Parr offers four brief chapters describing these motor vehicles, their history and regional differences, and regular competitions. Illustrated with color photographs, the book provides enough information to form the basis of a school report but is also designed to spark the interest of young enthusiasts, according to Gillian Engberg in Booklist. Parr offers a similar treatment of a sport that has developed out of rollerblading in Extreme In-line Skating Moves.

Parr told CA: "I was the odd ball who liked to diagram sentences in English class. I was the prissy one who played piano. I liked to hear old people tell stories. Something gnawed at me all these years. Finally I got the message—I am an artist and I need to write.

"My reason to write is simple: To help others (and myself) get in touch with their insides. That's it. It's simple—until I begin to probe and massage a topic. I get my hands and mind worked up and dirty. I barricade my desk for weeks. I eventually sigh and agree that the Creative One used me as a conduit. It's awesome and I'm hooked.

"Children are my target. Nonfiction is my genre. Meaningful, fresh output is my standard."