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 My
dad took this photo one Christmas night at my
grandmother’s house. I was reading Hans Brinker and
the Silver Skates, a book set in Holland.
I loved to read, especially about
faraway times and places. I read all the books I could
find that took place in England…The Secret Garden,
Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and Mary Poppins.
I wanted to live in England! The English
had a queen and lots of spooky old castles. Also, it
seemed you could have a nanny there to look after you
instead of ordinary old parents, and you might even get
to go to boarding school instead of Divine Child
Elementary.
Meanwhile, my real world was the Detroit suburbs. I
spent time skating and playing games like Clue and Spud
and kickball with my seven brothers and sisters. I also
did a lot of exploring with my best friend Susie, and
wrote my own stories, some of which I buried in fake
time capsules in our backyard.
My parents and brothers and sisters, plus our dog
Marilyn (front and center with bone), had our last photo
taken together on the front porch of our home just
before my sister Joan went to college (Bernadette in
The Costume Copycat
is based on Joan).
After that, one by one, all the children in our
family went our separate ways. I did a lot more
exploring, and even traveled to Africa and many of the
other places I read about when I was a little girl.
One day, my dream of living in England came true, and
my husband George and I brought up our two daughters in
London. We didn’t have a nanny, though, and Megan and
Alison never went to boarding school….
Although I live in New York now, my life is similar in many ways to my
childhood life. I still love to skate, play games and
explore. Reading and writing continue to be at the
center of my life.
 And my family and friends will always
be number one with me.
Hear Maryann Talk About Her Name
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