Yours Truly

Note: This information is subject to change as needed...

Ainsley Jo Phillips (actual full name is Ainsley Jobe Phillips but has, generally, gone by the more casual form of her name since birth) was born on December 12, 1952 in Anderson, Indiana to Raymond Woodford Phillips (deceased 2/2/04) and Lillian Ainsley (nee: Jobe) Phillips.

Until she was a little over a year old, she lived with her folks on the northwest corner of Bronnenberg and Ohio Avenues in Apartment #2 of a large house that had been divided into four residences.

After that, they moved to a farm that was, at the time (early 1954), several miles south of the Anderson city limits. These days, part of their farm is actually inside of the city limits.

From the time that she was little, Ainsley Jo had the muse in her, as, even before she was able to read and write, she loved to make up stories and can remember sitting in a circle around a firefly lantern with her cousins and telling "spook tales."

She encourages the practice of reading to kids, as she sees this experience as something that has played a big part in her becoming a writer--plus, it's just a great thing to do with your kids and/or kids in your care.

Although there must have been such a time, she really can't remember a time when she was unable to read the printed word--at least, within limits. She always had a stack of Little Golden Books at hand so that she could read on the toilet--even when the toilet was a potty chair instead of the one used by big kids and grown-ups.

Her first submission to and rejection letter from involved her favorite magazine at the time called Highlights For Children. She wasn't yet familiar with the concept of "lead time" and submitted a spring poem in the spring:

I jump for joy
When it is spring,
Flowers bloom
Church bells ring.

At that time, she was either in the last semester of kindergarten or first grade, but can't remember which at this time.

She now definitely understands lead time--and is, also, thrilled about the more instant potatoes way of Internet publishing.

One thing that hasn't been instant potatoes is the book that she's currently writing.

At one time, she had no idea how many chapters it would take to write it. Later, she estimated ten. Now, she says that it will take twelve.

There have been various reasons to delay the writing of this book (everything from health issues to technical problems), but she sees this as working in favor of a more complete book.

In her words: "If not for these delays, I wouldn't have had the chance to get the information and/or experienced the experiences that will now be included in the book."

When the book is actually finished, it will be announced right here!

That's all for now. . .