Considering Fame

Chessie

Recently, as I was walking into a restaurant with my eight-year-old grandson he looked up at me and asked, “Nonny, do you think anyone in here will know you are Marion Dane Bauer?” (This is the grandchild who was once convinced I was the author of all his books.)

I laughed—how could I not?—and said, “Chessie, I’m sure they won’t.”

But I couldn’t explain to him what a blessing that is.

My successes have all been of a manageable size. I’ve published steadily for nearly forty years, producin...