"Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn."
--Harriet Beecher Stowe
"Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn."
--Harriet Beecher Stowe
About Bette Bergeron
The Short Version...
An author and educator, I am a native of Maine who loves to write about the unique places and people of my home state. My favorite genres include women’s fiction, mystery, and speculative works—or a creative blend of the three. Like the people of Maine, my characters are funny, flawed, resilient, and proud—and sometimes find themselves in unexpected predicaments. Through my stories, I hope to share a sense of hope, make my readers laugh (and sometimes cry), and encourage conversation that may at times be difficult, but in the end will make connections between readers and across varied lived experiences.
The Longer Version...
While most authors will say that they “always knew they wanted to write,” this is actually true for me. If I wasn’t biking around my hometown of Thomaston with my friends (our pockets full of kibble for the stray cats), exploring the beauty of the oceanic tidal pools with my sister, or trekking on the train trestle with my cousin (crossing over the river on a live track is very exciting!), I was either reading or writing. Books by Tolkien, Alcott, Dahl, and Blume were my favorites… though there wasn’t much I wouldn’t read. My grandmother was the head librarian in our small town, and she was meticulous in reviewing the newest releases. In fact, when Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, first came out—and was instantly a center of controversy—instead of listening to the book censors, my grandmother made sure it was on the shelves. And my mother insisted I read it. I was fortunate to have such empowering women in my life—a theme that’s carried forward in the stories I write today.
As a child, my favorite spot to write was in an old smelting shack my father brought home and painted bright pink. It was cramped and hot, and the earwigs invaded in the summer, but it was a glorious place to expand my imagination! I sent one of the first stories I wrote in this playhouse, “Mack Finds an Owner” (about a cat, of course), to the International Marine Publishing Company in Camden. I recently found a letter the editor, Roger Taylor, took the time to write back to me. As he noted, “I wouldn’t worry too much about getting published yet; you’ve got plenty of time for that. The idea is to just keep writing, because good writing takes a lot of practice.” I wish I could tell him now how much his simple gesture meant to a young writer.
I kept writing, of course! I finished my first full-length novel when I was in high school, titled “Wind at My Heart.” My father typed and bound it for me—I still have it here in my office (who knows—maybe I’ll revisit it someday!). The story’s premise isn’t so bad—it’s about two cousins who get hit on the head by a falling tree, go back in time 200 years, and have to learn to cope with their new circumstances. I remember bugging the Home Economics teacher for advice on the cooking segments of the story; she was amused by my questions (“why do my pancakes taste like paste?”), but was always patient with me—even though I never took her classes. I wrote a Christmas play for my high school as well—and had to take on the role of Santa Claus because my classmate backed out at the last minute! Remembering my own lines was relatively easy; keeping my beard on during the production was not.
My passion for writing led to my initial career in teaching. I graduated with a B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Maine Orono (go Black Bears!), and taught second grade in the small rural town of Veazie. I loved writing and sharing stories with my students—and they wrote and shared their stories with me. Frankly, that’s the best part of being an educator and writer—encouraging the craft in others.
From Veazie I traveled west to Purdue, where I earned my M.S.Ed. and Ph.D. in Literacy. My career has taken me to Indiana, Illinois, Arizona, Connecticut, and New York in roles that have included faculty member, chair, dean, vice president, and provost. And while I still wrote every day, the focus turned to academe—writing about the classrooms I observed, the amazing teachers I had the privilege of working with, and the challenges educators faced as they navigated one of the most difficult jobs on the planet. I published several journal articles and conference proceedings, and co-authored two books: Teaching Reading Strategies in the Primary Grades with Melody Bradbury-Wolff (Scholastic) and Learning to Teach with Billie J. Enz and Michael Wolfe (Kendall Hunt). I also had the opportunity to travel to England, Scotland, South Korea, China, and Cuba to present papers on international partnerships and the U.S. higher education system.
But now… I’m back in Maine, and am finally able to return to my first passion—writing fiction! My husband and I love being back here on the coast, where we can breathe in salt air and hear the herring gulls screech overhead. If I’m not writing—with the help of the cat, my official Editorial Assistant—you might catch me wandering on the beach to gather seashells and inspiration, or playing the tenor sax in the local community band.
I look forward to sharing my stories with you!
Currently Querying
Resources
As an educator and author, I firmly believe that stories are a gift, and with this gift comes the responsibility to ensure their free and open access. To that important end, I’ve gathered the following resources. As you encounter additional sites along your own journey, please pass them along!
Library of Congress- the world’s largest library
Library of Congress/Education Resources- includes classroom materials and professional development to help educators use primary resources from the Library of Congress’ digital archives
https://www.loc.gov/education/
Dyer Library- a shameless plug for my local public library in Saco, Maine
https://dyerlibrarysacomuseum.org
American Library Association- advocates for libraries and library workers to ensure equitable access to books and information in all its forms
Unite Against Book Bans- an initiative of the American Library Association focused on opposing censorship
https://uniteagainstbookbans.org
Pen America- a nationwide community of writers, publishers, agents, and other writing professionals focused on championing the freedom to write
Pen America/Book Bans- tracking of book bans across the country (including current lists of banned books) and advocacy actions to fight censorship
Every Child a Reader- nonprofit that provides free books and educational materials, organizes book donations, and fights against book bans
National Education Association/Read Across America-resources for educators
https://www.nea.org/professional-excellence/student-engagement/read-across-america
International Literacy Association- organization for literacy professionals that advocates for children’s right to read and excellence in literacy education
https://www.literacyworldwide.org
International Literacy Association/Children’s Right to Read- free downloadable toolkit that includes literacy activities for various grade levels
https://www.literacyworldwide.org/get-involved/childrens-rights-to-read
Copyright Alliance- represents the voice of the copyright community to advocate for policies to promote and preserve the value of copyright, and protect the rights of creators and innovators
We Are Higher Ed- a coalition of educators advocating for academic freedom and intellectual integrity
Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance- the amazing community of writing professionals in Maine; check out the long list of amazing workshops!
I welcome you to join in on the conversation on Bluesky!
@bettebergeron.bsky.social