Martha Tolles

Expertise:Ms. Tolles' expertise is in writing children's novels and short stories, essays and one adult novel.

Hobbies/Sports:Reading, Spending Time with her family and friends.

Education Degrees:Coursework in Children's Literature, California State University, Long Beach; Bachelor of Arts in English, Smith College (1943)

Affiliations Awards:Lunch Bunch; The Authors Guild; Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators; Assistance League; Former President, High School Parent-Teacher Association. Her website is marthatolles.com,

Place of Birth:Oklahoma City

Marital Status:Widowed

Career Achievements:Mrs. Tolles began writing in 1965 when she was laid up in bed with a back problem. She had 6 children at home at the time and decided to begin writing children's stories. While recuperating from back surgery she received the wonderful news that her first book was going to be published., Too Many Boys. (She and her husband has a family of five sons and one daughter). Since that time she has had 11 published books and had recently published a novel for adults, Love and Sabotage..

Number Of Years In Profession:over fifty years

What Does she Attribute Success To:She attributes her success to her persistence, writing skills and being a part of the Lunch Bunch Writing Group in Los Angeles.

Why did you become involved in your profession or industry?:She became involved in her profession because she was bedridden due to her back injury, so decided to start writing short stories for her children.

Extended Bio Profile:Ms. Tolles wrote her first book 'Too Many Boys' in 1965. She has written many stories for children namely 'Pockets Full of Gold' and 'What Happened to the Dog....also the Darci Daniels Series' that includes 'Who's Reading Darci's Diary?,' 'Darci and the Dance Contest,' 'Darci in Cabin Thirteen' and 'Secret Sister.' She has also written the Katie Hart Series that includes 'Too Many Boys' in 1965, later re-titled by Scholastic as 'Katie and Those Boys' in 1974, 'Katie for President' and 'Katie's Baby-Sitting Job'. She has sold more than 2.3 million copies through Scholastic Publishing. She is also very proud of her children and grandchildren and great grandchildren and her husband too. He was a lawyer and helped establish a top law firm in Los Angeles, Munger, Tolles and Olson.

Position Responsibilities and Duties: Writing her First Adult Novel and serialized stories for the Los Angeles Times

Awards/Honors:Children's Choice Finalist for 'Marrying Off Mom,' International Reading Association; Children's Choice Finalist for 'Darci in Cabin Thirteen,' International Reading Association; Junior Literary Selection for Who's Reading Darci's Diary; American Book Fest finalist for Love and Sabotage.