Author translates love of reading into children's books

By Kevin Cullen, Journal and Courier

ATTICA -- Chris Woodworth isn't really interested in writing adult fiction. After all, grown-ups read one book, go to another, and forget the first one, she says.

Children are different. If they fall in love with a well-told tale, they return to it, again and again. The characters come alive, and they never forget them.

She's hoping that her first, just-published book, When Ratboy Lived Next Door, makes that kind of connection. It's getting great reviews.

The story is set in 1962, in the fictional town of Maywood, Ind., a town loosely based on West Lebanon, the Warren County community where Woodworth lived as a girl. All characters are fictional.

"I have always been a reader, but it wasn't until I had children of my own that I had a legitimate reason to read children's books again. I fell in love with them," says Woodworth, 47, whose children are 14 and 9.

At 39, she says, she decided what she wanted to do: write books for children.

She lives in the country, near Fountain, and decided to take an online writing course. An assignment led her to create the character of Willis "Ratboy" Merrill, a new boy in Maywood who has a pet raccoon.

It took Woodworth nearly two years to complete the first draft and a total of four years to get the 192-page book published. It's written for children ages 8 to 12.

The story revolves around young Lydia Carson, who dislikes the troublesome Ratboy but likes his older brother, Elliot. By insulting Ratboy, she alienates Elliot. In the end, she finds a friend in Ratboy and discovers the good in herself.

It's usually difficult for a first-time author to get a book published, but Woodworth found an agent and the first editor who read the manuscript bought it. It is published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Woodworth, who works part time at the Attica Public Library, also sold Georgie's Moon, which is scheduled for release next spring.

When Ratboy Lived Next Door is recommended by the American Library Association and Booklist calls it "a compelling debut for Woodworth."

Kirkus Reviews says that Woodworth "convincingly describes life in small town Indiana in 1962, the changing relationships between mother and adolescent daughter, and the complicated ways in which families survive and thrive, in this hopeful debut."

"This excellent novel," says the School Library Journal, "... should spark discussions about families, honesty, and what it means to be a good neighbor. An outstanding offering from a first-time author."

Woodworth only regrets that her father didn't live to see the finished book. Richard Lincicum died in September 2004 at 66.

"Reading was a love we shared," she says. "He knew the book was dedicated to he and my mother. It was finished, and sold, and in the works, and he even got to see the cover, but he didn't get to see it through."

Each week, reporter Kevin Cullen visits interesting people, places and things outside Greater Lafayette. To share a story idea, call him at (765) 420-5202 or (800) 407-5813 or write him c/o Journal and Courier, 217 N. Sixth St., Lafayette, IN. 47901. His e-mail is kcullen@journalandcourier.com.

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