Marci Peschke is a fixture at Kramer Elementary. As the school librarian, she places books in the hands of students every day, but for years she was too nervous to share her own personal work. “I’ve been a closet writer my whole life,” Peschke says. She eventually caught the attention of a publisher at the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Peschke had been working on “The Ghost’s Revenge”, the first of her series of mystery books. “They said, ‘We love it. How fast can you finish it?’ ” That spawned two more sets of children’s books, including “Growing up Daisy” and her latest, “Kylie Jean”, which is based on her niece. Set in East Texas, the four-book series follows a girl who dreams of being a beauty queen and must discover how to be pretty on the inside, too. “That kind of drives her,” Peschke says. “She has to be patient and learn some life lessons.” Peschke can’t keep the “Kylie Jean” books on the shelves at the Kramer library. “There’s a huge waiting list for them.” Peschke began as the Kramer librarian in 1999 and later served at under-performing schools, improving the library at Sam Houston Elementary and helping launch programs at Junkins Elementary, which had just opened at that time. She returned to Kramer three years ago. “I love my job. It’s like being able to do your hobby and get paid for it.” Peschke is currently working on her next installment of “Kylie Jean”.
“Kylie Jean” and Marci Peschke’s other children’s books are available through Capstone publishing at Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com and wherever books are sold.
