Byline: KATHLEEN DOOLEY Staff writer
Nancy Butcher's career has ``gone gangbusters in the past two years,'' according to the Saratoga Springs author.
Since her first ``Mary Kate and Ashley'' book was published last February, it skyrocketed to success. In March, a friend called Butcher and told her she was on the New York Times best-seller list for children's books.
``I thought it was a mistake,'' said the dark-haired, friendly young woman. An e-mail from an editor later that day confirmed it to be true.
The twins from the former TV show ``Full House,'' -- Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen -- are popular characters, she said. At one time, as many as six million children watched the TV show on Tuesday nights.
Butcher's book, ``Two of a Kind: It's Snow Problem,'' is the 15th in the Mary Kate and Ashley series. This is the first written by Butcher, and was published by Harper Entertainment in February.
Kids aged 9-12 continue to like the girls, reading about them in the series. Although they are age 12 in the series, the twins haven't lost their appeal. The story ideas are based on a TV series about the two girls.
And people of all ages love series books, said Butcher, who has found her niche.
Writing series books was not new for Butcher, who started working on children's books in 1991 as a ghost writer for a popular girls mystery series. She continues to write these.
Her byline is also found on two Wishbone books. In 1998, she wrote Wishbone's ``Lights, Camera Action Dog'' and later ``Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Dog.''
``People fall in love with certain characters and they don't want it to end,'' said Butcher, who came to Saratoga Springs in 1991 after working as an editor in New York City.
Born in Tokyo, Japan, she was raised in Akron, Ohio.
In 1983 after graduating from the University of Chicago, she moved to New York City, where she worked in book publishing for eight years until moving to this area. At first she worked from home.
Finding writing a lonely occupation from home, more than two years ago she set up shop at the Creative Bloc, a suite of Broadway offices for area free-lancers who work together and exchange ideas.
Butcher continues to crank out as many books as she can. She is collaborating on a a post apocalyptic adventure series for ages 13 and older, with children's author and fellow Saratogian Jennifer Armstrong. Harper Collins is expected to release their combined work in the spring. The two women are under contract for three books.
Butcher also writes ``How to'' and health and wellness books for adults. ``101 Ways to Stop Eating After Dinner,'' was written because the author noticed it seems to be a universal problem that individuals end up going into the refrigerator after dinner.
``They are bored, watching TV, and there's no reason to eat,'' she said. So, she came up with advice and tips on how to stop the eating habit. The book contains many things to do as replacements. She also contributes health and wellness stories to http:www.wholehealthmd.com.
Writing series books and raising a 6-year-old son takes up most of her time, but she also fits in time to serve as a member of the Saratoga Springs Planning Board.
``It's something that probably takes up 20 hours a month of more,'' she said of the Planning Board. She reads every application carefully and goes to the sites. ``It's a big responsibility but I love it,'' she said. Nicholas Lentini, 18, of Ballston Lake attended the National Youth Leadership Forum on Law on March 13-18 in Washington D.C.
Having an expressed an interest in law, the Shenendehowa High School senior joined more than 350 outstanding high school juniors and seniors from across the country at the conference. He plans to major in political science at the State University at Buffalo.
This summer he will serve as an intern in Sen. Hillary Clinton's Albany office.
