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Waterloo author featured in Highlights children‘s magazine author Margaret Springer â€"_ "I will always be a child at heart," whose work has been featured in a number of children‘s magazines. "And that is something that should not be through in her latest story, ‘A Home for Hector, which can be found in the July edition of Highlights magazine â€" a than 20 of Springer‘s stories over the last 17 years. A former childâ€"care worker and librarian with two degrees from McGill University, Springer made her first literary attempt in 1982, deciding at that time to specialize in children‘s books, including picture and junior novels, and fiction and nonâ€"ficâ€" "I really enjoy the children‘s audience," she said. "There is so much variety to it 1 can write everything from mystery and adventure to nonâ€"fiction. The eyes of children are so wide open that through each story, you can tell them something they‘ve never known before." The first two years of her newfound career were spent compiling a number of stories But it wasn‘t until 1984 that her first story, ‘The Trouble With Highlights And who better to inspire the children‘s story than a threeâ€"yearâ€"old child. "My nephew David sent me a little scribbly picture of what he called Fred the Dragon," Springer explained. "L thought, what a neat name for a dragon. I wrote the story based on the Since then, Springer has come up with a wide range of story ideas which have capâ€" tured the imagination of her young audience. "Sometimes I have an idea that just sparides for me," she said. "And I never know the ending of a story before I begin writing it Sometimes I might even start the story in the midâ€" dle, and I almost never know where I‘m going with it." But like most authors, Springer said she is not immune to the odd case of writer‘s block, especially since her office is based in her home with so many other distracâ€" iting for the child within herâ€" self has provided years of By Anorea Baney A was pybfi;hed in for of all shapes, sizes & colours Showroom samples, closeouts, hand made rugs, country braids, one of a kind ... ever changing stock. Margaret Springer‘s latest story is featured in Highlights magazthe. Amosea aauey roto Check us out Open Mon. to Sat. 10 amâ€"5pm STORE OPENING __ SPECIAL 40"* â€" 70" off RUGS I get things done. Though, it is a challenge i aex® Springer said she also relies on local news to spark some of her story ideas. In fact, an incident which took place in Waterioo close to 15 years ago was the background for one of Springer‘s most popular pieces. "A story called ‘Dishpan Ducks, which appeared in a 1990 edition of Highlights, was based on a fuel spill in Laurel Creek, which covered a number of ducks in oil," Springer said. "After reading about it, I wrote a story about a little immigrant girl who just moved to the city but couldn‘t speak English The only ones she could talk to were the ducks who lived in a creek behind her apartment building. "One day she went outside to find the ducks covered in oil and not able to fly She had to get them help, without being able to speak English." The popularity of the story soared, as six reprints have been made over the last decade, as well as a full Spanish translation of the tale. The writer attributed her success to the deep respect she has for children and what they experience in their young lives. "I don‘t talk down to them through my stories," Springer said. & "And I don‘t assume that childhood is all bright, sunny and happy. I < find that when writers do that, the needs of the children are often & ‘And Springer said receiving positive feedback on her work '-E what motivates her creativity. T ‘l'mahnysimptwitg'fl:csaki'llnpewlmrmmiimmday ¢ isbemdmwlmlmmemyasmandelvnienywfiuna now is even more polished." The Jewellery Outlet Store