Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Shiloh Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Phyllis Naylor was born on January 4, 1933, in Anderson, Indiana. Although she grew up during the Great Depression, her life was enriched by storytelling, reading, and writing.

Writing When she was not allowed to use new paper for writing, she would, in her own words, “rush home from school to see if the wastebasket held any discarded paper.” There she would write down whatever plot had been forming in her head.

Publishing Naylor’s first published story appeared in a church magazine when she was 16. She was even able to pay her tuition through college by writing stories. Later she began writing a column for teenagers, a column that continued for 25 years.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology rom American University. Mrs. Naylor devoted herself to raising a family and writing. In 1965 she published her first complete book, The Galloping Goat and Other Stories. She has since published over 80 works, including books for children and adults. Her work has earned her numerous awards and honors, including The South Caroling Young Adult Book Award, 1985-86, for A String of Chances; the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Night Cry; and the coveted Newbery Medal for Shiloh.

Inspiration Many of Mrs. Naylor’s books are inspired by real-life situations and tackle difficult and sensitive issues.

Today Naylor lives in Bethesda, Maryland with her husband, a speech pathologist. The Naylor’s have two children, Jeffrey Alan and Michael Scott, now grown.

She has said she is happy when spending some time each day writing, often as much as six hours. Depending on how much research is needed and how well formed her ideas about characters, she will take form three months to a year on a children’s book and perhaps as much as a year or two on a novel for adults. She say, “the best part about writing is the moment a character comes alive on paper…” That is what she likes the best.

Book Trailer Shiloh