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Chapters: My Growth as a Writer
The author recounts the experiences from her childhood, adolescence, and marriage which have been incorporated into her fictional stories and poems.
- GenresNonfictionWritingMemoir
263 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1982
2 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Lois Duncan
68 books2,003 followersLois Duncan (born Lois Duncan Steinmetz) was an American writer and novelist, known primarily for her books for children and young adults, in particular (and some times controversially considering her young readership) crime thrillers. Duncan's parents were the noted magazine photographers Lois Steinmetz and Joseph Janney Steinmetz. She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but grew up in Sarasota, Florida. Duncan started writing and submitting manuscripts to magazines at the age of ten, and when she was thirteen succeeded in selling her first story.
Duncan attended Duke University from 1952 to 1953 but dropped out, married, and started a family. During this time, she continued to write and publish magazine articles; over the course of her career, she has published more than 300 articles, in magazines such as Ladies' Home Journal, Redbook, McCall's, Good Housekeeping, and Reader's Digest. After her first marriage, which produced three children, ended in divorce, Duncan moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to teach journalism at the University of New Mexico, where she also earned a BA in English in 1977. In 1965 she married Don Arquette, and had two more children with him.
Duncan was best known for her novels of suspense for teenagers. Some of her works have been adapted for the screen, the most famous example being the 1997 film I Know What You Did Last Summer, adapted from her novel of the same title. Other made-for-TV movies include Stranger with My Face, Killing Mr. Griffin, Don't Look Behind You, Summer of Fear and Gallows Hill.
In 1989 the youngest of Duncan's children, Kaitlyn Arquette, was murdered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, under suspicious circumstances. Who Killed My Daughter? relates the facts and conjecture about the still unsolved case.
Duncan's second book about her daughter's murder, ONE TO THE WOLVES: ON THE TRAIL OF A KILLER, picks up where the first book leaves off and contains all the new information Kait's family has uncovered from private investigation.
The 1971 children's book Hotel for Dogs was released as a theatrical movie in 2009, starring Emma Roberts. That book has now been republished by Scholastic along with two sequels, News for Dogs (2009) and Movie for Dogs (2010).
Duncan's Gothic suspense novel, DOWN A DARK HALL, is being filmed for the Big Screen and will probably be released in 2016.
Follow Lois on Twitter: http://twitter.com/duncanauthor
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?i...
http://www.kaitarquette.arquettes.com
Duncan attended Duke University from 1952 to 1953 but dropped out, married, and started a family. During this time, she continued to write and publish magazine articles; over the course of her career, she has published more than 300 articles, in magazines such as Ladies' Home Journal, Redbook, McCall's, Good Housekeeping, and Reader's Digest. After her first marriage, which produced three children, ended in divorce, Duncan moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to teach journalism at the University of New Mexico, where she also earned a BA in English in 1977. In 1965 she married Don Arquette, and had two more children with him.
Duncan was best known for her novels of suspense for teenagers. Some of her works have been adapted for the screen, the most famous example being the 1997 film I Know What You Did Last Summer, adapted from her novel of the same title. Other made-for-TV movies include Stranger with My Face, Killing Mr. Griffin, Don't Look Behind You, Summer of Fear and Gallows Hill.
In 1989 the youngest of Duncan's children, Kaitlyn Arquette, was murdered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, under suspicious circumstances. Who Killed My Daughter? relates the facts and conjecture about the still unsolved case.
Duncan's second book about her daughter's murder, ONE TO THE WOLVES: ON THE TRAIL OF A KILLER, picks up where the first book leaves off and contains all the new information Kait's family has uncovered from private investigation.
The 1971 children's book Hotel for Dogs was released as a theatrical movie in 2009, starring Emma Roberts. That book has now been republished by Scholastic along with two sequels, News for Dogs (2009) and Movie for Dogs (2010).
Duncan's Gothic suspense novel, DOWN A DARK HALL, is being filmed for the Big Screen and will probably be released in 2016.
Follow Lois on Twitter: http://twitter.com/duncanauthor
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?i...
http://www.kaitarquette.arquettes.com
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 6, 2018
My rating is from when I read it at age 11. I don't remember it enough to rate it now.
October 21, 2025
I truly admired her growth as a writer, especially her childhood writing and the poems she wrote; they touched my heart deeply. Her method of writing is remarkable, one of the best I've seen. I enjoyed reading about her childhood and pre-teen years, but as soon as she entered the teenage phase and began writing about boys and relationships, I found myself losing interest and skimmed through those parts until she moved on to other topics. It's simple, because romance and emotional relationships aren't among my genres. Overall, I believe that this book stands as a reference in itself.
May 22, 2019
Lois Duncan was my favorite author growing up. I read most of her teen "mystery" books. I even interviewed her when I was in 8th grade. This was a fun insight into her formation as an author - full of stories she entered in magazines starting as young as 13. Inspiration to us new authors.
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April 20, 2021I might need to make a sticky shelf for books that stuck with me. This book came up in conversation today. I read it in 1982, it was a Christmas gift, and I can tell you many of the details of stories she wrote as a child and a young woman. (Of course I probably read it 8 times).
July 4, 2008
I love Lois Duncan's books, but I found this memoir a bit lacking... I much preferred Who Killed My Daughter? (her true story of her daughter's murder)--I think it revealed more about her personality.
February 17, 2008
after reading eve3ry spooky book in the library I even read her adult NF work on being a writer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2008
Read in Aug 08. Delightful little read. Lots of short stories and useful tips. I loved it!
January 22, 2012
Thsi book was very well written. I will admit that when I first picked it out I didn't have high hopes but it thought it was quite good.
November 22, 2014
Really cute read. Enjoyed getting to know a younger Lois Duncan.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews