Hello! I’m a children’s author based in Iowa City, Iowa. My Oppenheim-awarding winning book, Opera Cat, has recently been adapted into a one-act musical.

Aren’t voices magnificent? Each one is so different, as are the ways to tell a story. Perhaps that’s why I wanted to become a writer. To tell stories in my own way.

I grew up the youngest of six children in Coshocton, Ohio, a small town nestled in the foothills of the Appalachians. My brothers and sisters read to me from the time I was a baby. Lucky me!

I studied writing in college and at the University of Iowa’s Nonfiction Writing Program. I worked many jobs, including monitoring the cherry pitting machines at a pie filling factory, writing book jackets, and editing a scholarly journal. No matter which job I did, I was always scribbling ideas for children’s stories on napkins and the backs of envelopes.

After my husband Greg and I started our family, I decided to get serious about writing for children. Greg likes to tell the story of seeing me write on top of the washing machine in our laundry room: that’s where Opera Cat was born. I could never have dreamed then that Opera Cat would one day be adapted into a musical!

Currently, my husband and I live in Iowa City. Our two sons are now grown and we’re the lucky grandparents of two lively, creative grandchildren. I’m working on a middle grade novel and hope to be able to tell you more about it soon.

Thank you for being here. So many important things happen when you're young. I hope my stories bring you moments of delight as you learn and grow.

Etta Fish © Jennifer Black Reinhardt