Because there are many ways to get to know a person, I’ve included two here—the story and the facts.
MARILYN'S STORY
In second grade, I wrote a story about a coin named Dimey the Dime who traveled all around the world in people’s pockets. My teacher, Miss Seavey, wrote on my report card, “Marilyn has a gift for writing.” After waiting patiently for two weeks, finally I asked my mother when Miss Seavey was going to give me my present. Suppressing a grin (I’m sure), my mother explained what Miss Seavey meant, and then I realized that my teacher had indeed given me a wonderful present.
Those encouraging words stuck with me all through high school and college, where I gravitated toward classes and activities that involved writing, such as editing the newspapers, yearbooks, and literary magazines; organizing and reading at open mic events; and submitting stories and poems for publication. I never stopped writing, but for a long time after that, other things became more important.
When I began working to support myself and, later, our growing family, I felt that something was missing, like a gnawing in my heart, and soon discovered it was my writing. So, while I worked full time during the day as a technical writer, I went to graduate school at night for creative writing. Five years later, the day before I went into labor with our second child, I handed in my final thesis.
Then I discovered writers’ conferences, where I met people just like me—crazy people with weird ideas whose hearts sing when they write. (I believe your heart sings when you’re doing what you were created to do.) At one of these conferences, I met an editor who was looking for a particular kind of book for girls—and that’s how my first book, The Christian Girl’s Guide to Your Mom, was published.
These days, I’m doing exactly what I love best: writing and editing for corporate clients, taking care of my family, and fitting all my stories into new books. Oh, and tap dancing (I’m the third from the right)!
MARILYN'S PROFESSIONAL BIO
Marilyn C. Hilton has published numerous articles, devotions, short stories, and poems in literary and consumer magazines such as Decision, Women’s Touch/Leader’s Touch, Spirit-Led Writer, Bay Area Baby, Mid-American Review, and Reed, and was a columnist for the online magazine Spirit-Led Writer, offering information and advice on writing nonfiction. She has also published two books for preteen girls, The Christian Girl’s Guide to Your Mom and It’s All About Dad & Me, and has contributed to several anthologies. Marilyn enjoys speaking and teaching at workshops, schools, meetings, and retreats.
Marilyn holds a M.A. in English/Creative Writing and is a member of several professional organizations, including Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), Romance Writers of America (RWA), American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and Christian Authors Network (CAN), of which she was a founding board member. After working for several years in the computer software industry, she now provides writing and editing services for corporate business, publishers, and authors while working on her various writing and speaking projects. Marilyn, her husband, and their three children (and one feisty mini-dachshund) live in San Jose, California.
