Norma Dixon was an advertising copy writer who wrote about hot water heaters, brassieres, and everything in between. For a hobby, she began to write real stories that had a beginning middle and end. She was fortunate in getting her first two picture books published, first try, then began to write non-fiction articles for kids' magazines. She claims, "Anyone who is poor at plotting should give kids' non-fiction a whirl. As long as the facts are put down in form that is not a cure for insomnia, in a way that's appealing to your aimed-at age group, you don't have to worry about building tension and what have you."

She says her first non-fiction book, Lowdown on Earthworms,that was a Silver Birch nominee a few years ago, and this year's Focus on Flies, another nominee, owe about 95% of their appeal to the artist and photographer. Currently, she was surprised and delighted that her Spying on Moles won first prize, from among many entries, in the Pacific Northwest Writer's Association children's category. She is a docent who takes kids programs at the Museum of Vancouver and the Maritime Museum, so is able to keep contact with kids in grades 4 to 7. "Writing keeps me happy," she says. "Even when writers' block makes me want to hurl my computer through the window."

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Norma Dixon njdixon1@telus.net