Victoria Gail Oltarsh

Victoria Oltarsh is a native New Yorker who grew up playing in Central Park when visiting her grandparents. Now a mother and grandmother, she feels most comfortable in the delightful company of children. Victoria has spent her thirty-five-year career directing original and classical plays, teaching improv theater, creating original plays with children of all ages, and is a published lyricist on the song, “Lucky Charm,” produced by Grover Washington Jr. Victoria is also a recipient of an individual artist grant from The Arts Council of Rockland. Her adaptations of classical fairy tales have been performed for students at school assembly programs with the River Light Theater Adult Touring Company. Whether as a teaching artist working for agencies in underserved neightborhoods in NYC public schools, or teaching drama in summer programs and for art centers, Victoria loves to encourage children to find their inner voice expressing themselves through the creative arts. Inspired by the universal wonder she once felt as a child, mesmerized with the mystery of looking up at the stars, she is excited to share her space-fantasy adventure with all.

You can listen to an informative podcast interview about this book, now archived, under Children's Fiction, The Boy and The Secret of the Stars, by putting in my name and book title to find the show on your favorite podcast platform apps.

2024 INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS: Top 5 Children's Fiction Finalist for, The Boy and the Secret of the Stars.