Keith McGowan is the Thurber House Children’s Writer in Residence for 2010

After a very busy four-week stay at the Thurber House 3rd floor apartment, Keith packed up and departed for a stay with friends before returning to his home in Vienna, Austria. During his stay in Columbus, Keith worked diligently on his next book about the continuing adventures of Sol and Connie, the brother and sister duo introduced in his first book, The Witches Guide to Cooking with Children. He really enjoyed getting to know the 4th and 5th grade Thurber Campers and the kids at the Dowd Center. When not at Thurber House, Keith spent most of his time at the Columbus Main Library. We will miss Keith and wish him the very best!

To see Keith’s interview on Writers’ Talk with Doug Dangler click here.  

For more information about Keith, visit his Web site at www.keithbooks.com.

Background of the Thurber Writer in Residency Program

Since 2001, the Thurber House has offered children's book writers a month-long retreat in the furnished third-floor apartment of Thurber House. Each resident spends up to ten hours per week teaching children the joys of writing in both a community-based agency and as part of the Thurber House Summer Writing Camp for children. He or she also receives a stipend and has plenty of time to write in the apartment where the bed fell on James Thurber's father. Past recipients are Deborah Wiles (01), Kathryn Hewitt (02), Natasha Tarpley (03), Laurie Miller Hornik (04), Shelley Pearsall (05), Sam Swope (06), Lisa Yee (07), Alan Silberberg (08), Hope Anita Smith (09).

2008 Recipient Alan Silberberg amuses Thurber Board President Louise Jones and former Board President Kitty Morton Epler at his welcoming reception. Lisa Yee, the 2007 recipient, gladly signs autographs for campers after her presentation at the Thurber Summer Writing Camp.

Thurber House would like to thank JP Morgan Chase Foundation for their continuous sponsorship of this program.