By Caroline Roosevelt
Contributing Writer

It is rare to find an author who writes for both adult and younger audiences as there are so many variables to navigate, so many stylistic choices and ways to communicate that differ in efficacy between audiences that range from little kids to adults, but that is just what Philadelphia-area author Jenni L. Walsh does best. 

The best-selling author will be speaking at Avon Grove Public Library on November 14 about her work, which focuses on first person style biographies of strong women in history. To date, she has written 12 historical fiction books for both adults and children. I recently chatted with Jenni about her work and her upcoming event.

Caroline Roosevelt: So, tell me a little bit about your work. I think it’s really cool that you’re into the “heroines of history” subject matter.

Jenni Walsh: I am so inspired by real history and real life and especially like the real women who have contributed to the world today. I love highlighting different women and bringing them to life.

Tell me about your first book.

My first book, Becoming Bonnie, was published in 2017 and it is the story of how Bonnie Parker meets Clyde Barrow, and how she essentially becomes part of the iconic Bonnie and Clyde duo.

I feel like that’s so popular right now too because everyone wants the back stories and the origin stories of these iconic people.

It is so interesting to imagine who they could have been before they were iconic, and in Bonnie’s case, the way that popular culture has portrayed her is actually quite different than who she was in real life. While you can’t justify any of the things that Clyde and their gang did, it was interesting to see a different side of Bonnie and then to tell the story in her first-person perspective.

You have two new books coming out soon, right?

Bug Bandit is targeted at the 4-to-7-year-old reading audience and is inspired by a real heist that took place in Philadelphia. I will also have a new adult novel coming out in January entitled Ace Marvel Spy, which chronicles the life of Alice Marvel, who was a top tennis player in the 1930s, as well as a writer and an editor for the “Wonder Woman” comic strip series. If that wasn’t enough, she was approached to go to Switzerland during World War Two to spy on an ex-lover. Her story has it all -- the perseverance comeback story, the love story and the advocacy story of her promoting women through her work as a writer. 

What will you be focusing on and sharing at the Avon Grove Library reading on Nov. 14?

I will be focusing on my book Operation Happy, which was published this past February. It is inspired by true story of a young girl who survived Pearl Harbor, where her family was stationed and where her father was in the U.S. military. I read this little girl’s memoir, and I was just blown away by everything that she faced, not only during the attack on Pearl Harbor, but afterwards. The one thing that was important to me was acknowledging that it was really scary time period and that it would be challenging for young children to read it, so I added in a point of view of dog named Happy. He adds a level of levity to the book and humor and a bit of silliness in an otherwise really scary time.

I will read from Operation Happy, and then talk about my process of writing a little bit and give an example of the five Ws: who, where, when, why and what. It’s funny how I first learned about them in second and third grade and see how they have resurfaced in how I approach my writing, and how those questions fit into my storytelling.

Jenni L. Walsh’s Nov. 14 appearance at the Avon Grove Library is part of a celebration of the library’s 150th anniversary, which is hosting four local authors in a live speaker series. Following Walsh’s appearance, young adult author Dianne Salerni will appear on Nov. 18 and children’s nonfiction writer Annette Whipple will appear on Jan. 25, 2025. Each event begins at 6 p.m. The Avon Grove Library is located at 117 Rosehill Avenue, West Grove, Pa. 19390. To learn more about the event, visit www.avoingrovelibrary.org.

To learn more about Jenni L. Walsh, visit www.jennilwalsh.com.