About Me
Hi I’m Linda. Linda Martin Andersen. I wear a jester’s hat on my blog. Would you like to guess why? Leave me your best guess on the comments below and I’ll let you know if you’re right.
I am married and have two grown sons and two grandsons. I live way off the highway and down a dirt driveway. Although I live in the country, we do not have any cows or goats. I do live on a farm, but not that kind. It is a tree farm that is planted in pine trees. Before I started school, my grandmother used to raise cows and I was scared of them. If my father wanted to get me to come on to the house and I was lingering, he would call mooo. I’d come running.
Today, I can be seen hanging out with cows–artsy ones anyway. See here:
Meet A. Cow, an exhibit for the Cow Parade, a charity event for children’s hospitals. Photo– Fayetteville, NC, home of the Airborne. Copyright 2012 Linda Andersen.
When I was young like you, I used to play jump rope and jacks. I could walk a barrel, but I never was very good at roller skating. I liked to tell my mom all about my day—all about it. I went on and on.
I have worked in several different jobs. I even drove a school bus. Mostly, I have been a teacher and a school counselor. I also worked at the public library. Now, I am an elementary school reading tutor. Every minute that I can, I write for children. It is the best job ever. I write picture books, fiction and nonfiction stories and articles, teacher guides, and curriculum. I love to go to writers’ conferences where I learn more about writing and I get to meet authors and illustrators. To me, it’s better than meeting movie stars.
I like to read blogs written by writers and illustrators. Now, I am a blogger too. I also enjoy spending time in the mountains of North Carolina, being outdoors, and of course reading and writing.
A Writer's Playground 
Ruby said
Linda, You go girl ….I am so honored to be your friend and fellow writer. I love the hat and your blog…..One day, I will turn on the television, and there I will see Linda Anderson….Hey it may be on the Anderson Cooper show…….Then again, you may be streaming live from the farm talking to kids around the world…keep that beautiful smile and awesome hat……until we talk again.
lindamartinandersen said
Ruby,
Thanks so much for visiting “A Writer’s Playground” and for the compliments about the blog and my jester hat. I appreciate that very much. Maybe one day we’ll be on TV together. Who knows. Keep loving life and writing. I’m entering you in the contest giveaway which is for a CD called “JOY,” whistled by Phyllis Heil, international whistling champion. Good luck!
Sandy Scarboro said
Hi Linda,
Wow! I am so exctted for you! This is a charming site. I will spread the word among my mommy friends. May I have your autograph?
Sandy
lindamartinandersen said
Sandy,
Thanks so much for leaving such a complimentary comment. If you’ll visit the blog again at the beginning of August, you can register for a book giveaway which will be autographed by the author. I appreciate that you will pass on the word to your mommy friends. That’s what I am hoping to get more and more of.
Marietta Overton said
Yeah Linda, you are an inspiration. Your site is so cute and fun to read and get into. See you soon. – Marietta, a.k.a Georgia
lindamartinandersen said
Marietta,
Thanks for the compliment! I’m glad you like my blog. I’m having fun with it. Please keep coming back. Did you sign up as a follower? I’d love it if you could. See you soon on campus.
Luke Thomas French said
Jester’s hat, eh? The Dangermouse in me says Linda Martin Andersen, writer and cow-tamer extraordinaire, is a but a crafty guise, and you are in fact Esther the Polyester Jester, master of deception and banana thief. With that hat, no one would ever know it was you who emptied the fruit bowl. Of course, I could be Penfold-ingly off course. Great fun guessing, and a lovely site – one I’m going to enjoy exploring.
lindamartinandersen said
Luke,
What a vivid imagination you have. I will keep my true identity under my hat for the moment. 😉 Thanks for following my blog and for your comments and liking the post. I look forward to visiting your site.
“A Writer’s Playground” is Celebrating Its First Birthday. Let’s Parade in Our Favorite Hats! « A Writer's Playground said
[…] About Me […]
lindamartinandersen said
Edmovia,
Yes, yes, I’m the one. How are you? That was back in ’08. Wow! So great to hear from you! How did you find me? I remember you and how well we connected in class. You could relate to my poem about building out of salvaged lumber– reminded you of your childhood. I hope you’ll write me at landersen74@yahoo.com. Let’s catch up!
Edmovia said
There once was a barrel laugh lady
Went by the handle of Linda A.
She took a poetry class
On a magical poetry bus
Way back in the day
The bus was driven by Melody Gough
Are you that Linda A.?
This Edmovian poet would love to know
lindamartinandersen said
Edmovia,
Yes, yes, I’m the one. How are you? That was back in ’08. Wow! So great to hear from you! How did you find me? I remember you and how well we connected in class. You could relate to my poem about building out of salvaged lumber– reminded you of your childhood. I hope you’ll write me at landersen74@yahoo.com. Let’s catch up!
Emily Rose Lewis said
I’m glad to meet you through your blog. I love your childlike wonderment; refreshing!
A jest urge hat because you like to entertain?
Emily Rose Lewis said
‘Jester’ hat…
lindamartinandersen said
Emily,
Yes, you guessed why I wear the hat. I am a retired elementary school counselor and a friend bought me this to wear when I read “The Jester Has Lost His Jingle.” She snapped my photo in the hat. I decided to keep the fun going here too! Thanks for playing along. I can tell you like to have fun too!
lindamartinandersen said
Thanks for stopping in and leaving a comment. I love my hat too. It was a special gift. Yours is nice as well. I think many of us are “kids at heart.” I’ll hope you’ll come again soon and comment on blog posts too.
annabellefranklinauthor said
I love your hat – and like you, I love writing for children. It truly is the best job in the world – we get to give free rein to our imagination and our sense of humour, and to relive our own childhood.
lindamartinandersen said
Annabelle,
I apologize for not noticing this comment earlier. Thanks for the compliment on the hat. It was a gift. I have discovered that one of the reasons I like writing for children is because I can create stories that I would have liked to have lived.
Fun Simplicity said
Hi Linda, you look lovely in the jester hat. Were you telling a story to the children when you wore that hat?
You have a very exciting childhood and rich working experiences. I’m glad to know you. I look forward to explore your works. 🙂
lindamartinandersen said
Thanks for the compliment. I was reading a book called “The Jester Has Lost His Jingle.” A friend said I needed a jester hat and bought me one to wear. I treasure it and her. It’s great to have met you too. Wish you all the best also.
Fun Simplicity said
If you read it, then it should be a good book. I shall check it out. Maybe I can read it to my children, nieces and nephews. Thank you, Linda. 🙂 Best wishes to you too! 🙂
lindamartinandersen said
Fun Simplicity,
The book was written by David Saltzman, a young man who had Hodgkin Lymphoma (cancer) and died. He wrote the book prior to his death. There is a website and charity that developed from this.
Bee Halton said
Hi Linda, I could not find an email address for you. You can find the question for my interview series here http://beehalton.com/p/the-bee-talks-with.html if you could send the answers, a picture of you if you want to, book blurbs and covers that you want to have in the post and links where to purchase them and any social media links you want to include to bee.halton at gmail dot com then I can put it up soon.
lindamartinandersen said
Bee,
I will check it out over the weekend. Thanks for sending me everything I’ll need.
Bee Halton said
You are welcome and thanks for taking part 🙂
lindamartinandersen said
Looking forward to it, Bee.
Gameplan Happily Ever After said
Your about me is quite charming and I must say glad your follow brought me here 🙂 Thank for the follow Linda 🙂 To write for the children must be such a rewarding experience 🙂 Hope you have a wonderful week ahead dear 🙂
lindamartinandersen said
Thanks for dropping in and letting me know that you’re glad you did. I hope you’ll come back again soon. With “Happily Ever After” as part of your blog’s name, you seem just right for visiting “A Writer’s Playground.” Take care!
Gameplan Happily Ever After said
Sure. I will hang around for more 🙂 You too take care and have a blessed rest of the week 🙂
lindamartinandersen said
Nice to have you hanging around! I look forward to more of your posts too!
Jinnette Johnson Hathaway said
The reason you wear the jester hat is that you like to “jest” around and have fun and enjoy life!😇
lindamartinandersen said
Yes, that is true. I was given the hat because I was reading a book called THE JESTER HAS LOST HIS JINGLE to students and a friend thought I should wear a jester hat while reading the book. Cool friend, huh? Thanks for following my blog. Most appreciated.