Bio:

Dorothy was born in Minnesota and grew up in Marin County, California. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Stanford University and a M.A. and Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of California, Berkeley.
Dorothy has been writing for children for 36 years, with more than 130 published books to her name. She has also coauthored two gardening books and a cookbook for adults, as well as having written dozens of articles for magazines and newspapers including Woman’s Day, The Writer, Spider, Relish, and The Missoulian. She has also facilitated classes for adults in releasing the creative spirit through writing, using nature as inspiration, at the Yellowstone Institute in Yellowstone National Park and other locales. She gives adult workshops on various aspects of writing for children in Montana and Hawaii. She also does individual manuscript consultations.
Dorothy has received numerous awards for her writing, including the Golden Kite from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators; the Lud Browman Award for Science Writing, Friends of the Mansfield Library, University of Montana; the Washington Post/Children’s Book Guild Award for nonficition writing, and the Regional Book Award from the Mountain & Plains Independent Bookseller’s Association. Her books have appeared on many lists of best books of the year, including those from Scientific American Magazine, the New York Public Library, the Chicago Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the National Science Teachers’ Association, The John Burroughs List of Nature Books, and School Library Journal.
Dorothy loves writing nonfiction because it gives her an excuse for learning new information, her favorite activity, and sharing it with others. She also loves travel, hiking, photography, and watercolor painting.
Dorothy is a Vice President of Ink Think Tank, a group of nonfiction writers for children who provide various services, including a daily blog by a variety of authors (www.inkrethink.blogspot.com), a list of the books of two dozen nonfiction authors that keys their books into the common curriculum standards (www.inkthinktank.com), and Authors on Call, a service that brings nonfiction writers into schools via videoconferencing to help teachers use these authors' books in the classroom both for their informational content and as examples of exemplary writing.
Dorothy and her husband, Greg, live in beautiful Missoula, Montana, on the edge of a meadow overlooking the city and the mountains beyond. Their two adult sons are both married and have provided them with five lively grandchildren.

Writer
PAL
Member since 1975
Region: Big Sky (Montana)

Contact Information

Current Location:   Missoula
Website:  http://dorothyhinshawpatent.com

Published In Children's Market: Yes
Available for Speaking Engagements? Yes