Biography and photograph provided by Marcia Thornton Jones

Marcia Thornton Jones is a veteran teacher, as well as a best-selling author. She was born in Joliet, Illinois in 1958, but spent most of her childhood in Lexington, Kentucky. She holds degrees from the University of Kentucky and Georgetown College. During her teaching career, Marcia taught first-grade, third-grade, reading, computer lab skills, and elementary gifted and talented students.

One afternoon, while working at a private school, she mentioned to the school librarian that she'd always had an interest in writing the kinds of books her students enjoyed reading. The librarian, Debbie Dadey, shared a common desire to write stories that would encourage reading skills while promoting a true joy of reading. The next afternoon, Marcia and Debbie met while their students were at lunch and began writing.

After two years of rejections, Marcia had a really bad day. For some reason, the kids in Marcia's class wouldn't behave. "I'd have to grow ten feet tall, sprout horns, and blow smoke out my nose just to get their attention," Marcia complained. Debbie liked that idea for a story. Together, they sat down and started writing a story about a teacher that could do just what Marcia wanted to do. That story, VAMPIRES DON'T WEAR POLKA DOTS, became the first book in their best-selling series, "The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids." The book was selected for the "Children's Top 100 Books" list by the National Education Association and the International Reading Association's "Children's Choice Award." The series was a Publishers Weekly best-seller.

Since then, Marcia has written several books for children and has collaborated with Debbie Dadey on five additional series. She was the proud recipient of the 2002 Milner Award and her book, GODZILLA ATE MY HOMEWORK was named for the 2000 Elementary Library Book Award (ELBA).

Besides writing, Marcia enjoys presenting at schools and conferences. As a veteran teacher, she easily relates the importance of writing to students of all ages. During her lively and entertaining school visits, students participate in the five step writing process by brainstorming ideas, developing characters, and drafting stories. Marcia also enjoys working with teachers to help develop practical classroom writing programs for their classrooms.

Marcia continues to live in Lexington, Kentucky with her husband, Stephen, and their two cats. Her hobbies include yoga, walking, reading, playing the piano, and beading.

• GODZILLA ATE MY HOMEWORK, a chapter book for young readers published by Scholastic
• CHAMP, a middle-grade novel published by Scholastic
• THREE CHEERS FOR JACK Frost, a picture book published by Scholastic

• "The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids" published by Scholastic with more than 60 titles including Vampires Don't Wear Polka Dots, Santa Claus Doesn't Mop Floors and Mrs. Jeepers's Scariest Halloween Ever
• "The Bailey School Kids Junior Chapter Books" published by Scholastic with titles including Ghosts DO Splash in Puddles and Reindeer DO Wear Striped Underwear
• "Ghostville Elementary" published by Scholastic with thirteen titles including Ghost Game, Class Trip to the Haunted House and Frights, Camera, Action
• "Barkley's School for Dogs" published by Volo Press with twelve titles including Playground Bully, Santa Dog and Tattle Tails
• "Bailey City Monsters" published by Scholastic with ten titles including The Monsters Next Door, Howling at the Hauntlys' and Snow Monster Mystery
• "Triplet Trouble" published by Scholastic and with eight titles including Triplet Trouble and the Talent Show Mess, Triplet Trouble and the Runaway Reindeer and Triplet Trouble and the Field Day Disaster

Marcia is also the co-author of the adult writing guide STORY SPARKERS: A CREATIVITY GUIDE FOR CHILDREN'S WRITERS published by Writer's Digest Books.

For more information about Marcia, her books, author visits and for activities related to her books, check out Marcia's Web Site at www.MarciaTJones.com.