# Gloria Skurzynski > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Gloria_Skurzynski > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Gloria_Skurzynski.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_Skurzynski > Source revision: 1351125384 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) American writer Gloria Skurzynski Born Gloria Joan Skurzynski (1930-07-06) July 6, 1930 (age 95) Duquesne, Pennsylvania, U.S. Occupation Writer Alma mater Mount Mercy College Genres Fiction non-fiction Notable works Good-bye, Billy Radish (1992) Spouse Edward Joseph Skurzynski ​ ​ (m. 1951)​ Children 5 Parents Aylmer Kearney Flister Serena Decker Flister **Gloria Joan Skurzynski** (born July 6, 1930) is an American writer of books for young people, including both fiction and non-fiction. ## Early life and education Gloria Joan Flister Skurzynski was born in [Duquesne](/source/Duquesne%2C_Pennsylvania), [Pennsylvania](/source/Pennsylvania) in 1930 to Aylmer Kearney Flister and Serena Decker Flister. Her father worked at a [steel mill](/source/Steel_mill), while her mother worked as a [telegraph operator](/source/Telegraphist). She grew up during the [Great Depression](/source/Great_Depression). She was educated at [Carlow University](/source/Carlow_University) in 1948, which at that time was known as Mount Mercy College. She disliked school, however, and dropped out to work as a statistical clerk at the U.S. Steel in Pittsburgh from 1950 to 1952.[1] She met Edward Joseph Skurzynski while working there, and they were married in December 1951.[2] They went on to have five children, and later moved to [Salt Lake City](/source/Salt_Lake_City), [Utah](/source/Utah). Skurzynski and her husband Edward currently reside in [Boise, Idaho](/source/Boise%2C_Idaho).[1] ## Career Skurzynski is the author of more than sixty books written for young readers. She became friends with [Phyllis McGinley](/source/Phyllis_McGinley), poet who won a [Pulitzer Prize](/source/Pulitzer_Prize) in 1965. Through their correspondence, McGinley convinced Skurzynski to try professional writing. Skyrzynski's first professional writing attempt was rejected 58 times before her first publication made it into *[Teen Magazine](/source/Teen_Magazine).*[1] Skurzynski was also published in *School and Library Journal* magazines.[2] It was reported that she was inspired by one of her daughter's poems in 1966 to become a free-lance writer.[3] In 1979, she became a professional writer,[4] and shifted her focus to children's novels. Four Winds Press published her first children's novel, *What Happened in Hamelin?* in 1979.[5] She is also the author of *The Tempering* (1983) and *[Good-bye, Billy Radish](/source/Good-bye%2C_Billy_Radish)* (1992).[1] In her writing, Skurzynski draws on her life experiences, including her father's stories and her own childhood in Pittsburgh.[1] Many of her books include themes about national parks, [astronomy](/source/Astronomy), and animals.[6] Skurzynski is also the author of several non-fiction books. These include *Bionic Parts for People: The Real Story of Artificial Organs and Replacement Parts* which was published in 1978, and *Are We Alone?: Scientists Search for Life in Space* which was published in 2004. More recently, she collaborated with her daughter, [Alane Ferguson](/source/Alane_Ferguson) to write a series of books for [National Geographic Society](/source/National_Geographic_Society) called *Mysteries in Our National Parks.*[1] To write these books, Skurzynski did most of the technical research on the subjects, while her daughter wrote the dialogue.[2] Before becoming a professional writer, Skurzynski was involved with the [Girl Scouts of the USA](/source/Girl_Scouts_of_the_USA). She wrote a play for them to perform in 1964 entitled *The Golden Chain*.[7] ## Awards Skurzynski received an Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children award from the [National Science Teachers Association](/source/National_Science_Teachers_Association) (NSTA) in 1991. Later more of her books have received the same award. Her book *Good-bye, Billy Radish* was named the Best Book of the Year by the School Library Journal and was also awarded a Judy Lopez Memorial Book by the [Women's National Book Association](/source/Women's_National_Book_Association). In 2002, Skurzynski received two Golden Spur Awards from the Western Writers of America for *Rockbuster*.[8] She was also awarded a Science Writing Award from the [American Institute of Physics](/source/American_Institute_of_Physics), as well as a [Golden Kite Award](/source/Golden_Kite_Award).[1] She was also the recipient of a Christopher Award from the Western Writers of America.[9] ## Selected works ### *Mysteries in Our National Parks* - *Mysteries In Our National Parks: Ghost Horses: A Mystery in Zion National Park* (2007) - *Mysteries in Our National Parks: Wolf Stalker: A Mystery in Yellowstone National Park* (2007) - *Mysteries in Our National Parks: Night of the Black Bear: A Mystery in Great Smoky Mountains National Park* (2007) - *Mysteries in Our National Parks: Cliff-Hanger: A Mystery in Mesa Verde National Park* (2007) - *Mysteries in Our National Parks: The Hunted: A Mystery in Glacier National Park* (2007) - *Mysteries in Our National Parks: Deadly Waters: A Mystery in Everglades National Park* (2007) - *Mysteries in Our National Parks: Over The Edge* (2008) - *Mysteries in Our National Parks: Valley of Death: A Mystery in Death Valley National Park* (2008) - *Mysteries in Our National Parks: Escape From Fear: A Mystery in Virgin Islands National Park* (2008) - *Mysteries in Our National Parks: Buried Alive: A Mystery in Denali National Park* (2008) - *Mysteries in Our National Parks: Out of the Deep: A Mystery in Acadia National Park* (2008) ### *The Virtual War Chronologs* - *Virtual War* (1997) - *The Clones* (2002) - *The Revolt* (2005) - *The Choice* (2006) ### Others - *The Magic Pumpkin* (1971) - *The Remarkable Journey of Gustavus Bell* (1973) - *The Poltergeist of Jason Morey* (1975) - *In a Bottle with a Cork on Top* (1976) - *Two Fools and a Faker: Three Lebanese Folk Tales* (1977) - *Bionic Parts for People: The Real Story of Artificial Organs and Replacement Parts* (1978) - *Martin by Himself* (1979) - *Honest Andrew* (1980) - *Safeguarding the Land: Women at Work in Parks, Forests, and Rangelands* (1981) - *Manwolf* (1981) - *Swept in the Wave of Terror* (1985) - *The Minstrel In The Tower* (1988) - *Robots: Your High-Tech World* (1990) - *Almost the Real Thing: Simulation in Your High-Tech World* (1991) - *Here Comes the Mail* (1992) - *Get the Message: Telecommunications in Your High-Tech World* (1993) - *Lost in the Devil's Desert* (1982) - *Know the Score* (1994) - *Zero Gravity* (1994) - *Trapped in the Slickrock Canyon* (1994) - *Caitlin's Big Idea* (1995) - *Cyberstorm* (1995) - *Waves* (1996) - *[Good-bye, Billy Radish](/source/Good-bye%2C_Billy_Radish)* (1996) - *Mystery Of The Fire In The Sky* (1997) - *Wolf Stalker: National Park's Mystery #1* (1998) - *Discover Mars* (1998) - *Cliff-Hanger* (1998) - *Spider's Voice* (1999) - *Rage Of Fire* (1999) - *Deadly Waters* (1999) - *On Time* (2000) - *The Hunted* (2000) - *Ghost Horses* (2000) - *The Tempering* (2000) - *Rockbuster* (2001) - *Escape From Fear* (2002) - *Out Of The Deep* (2002) - *Running Scared* (2002) - *Are We Alone? Scientists Search for Life in Space* (2004) - *Sweat and Blood: A History of U.S. Labor Unions* (2008) - *This Is Rocket Science: True Stories of the Risk-taking Scientists who Figure Out Ways to Explore Beyond Earth* (2010)[10] ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-findingaidPitts_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-findingaidPitts_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-findingaidPitts_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-findingaidPitts_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-findingaidPitts_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-findingaidPitts_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-findingaidPitts_1-6) Alison Sennett (2014). "[Gloria Skurzynski Papers](http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/f/findaid/findaid-idx?c=ascead;cc=ascead;q1=skurzynski;rgn=main;view=text;didno=US-PPiU-sc201302)". Prepared for the ULS Special Collections Department, Pittsburgh, PA. Retrieved June 3, 2016. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-penn_center_for_book_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-penn_center_for_book_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-penn_center_for_book_2-2) ["Skurzynski, Gloria (Joan)"](http://pabook2.libraries.psu.edu/palitmap/bios/Skurzynski__Gloria.html). *Pennsylvania Center for the Book*. Retrieved 3 June 2016.[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*] 1. **[^](#cite_ref-SLTribune_3-0)** ["Magic Pumpkin a delightful children's book"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/10144494/?terms=Gloria%2BSkurzynski). The Salt Lake Tribune. 17 Oct 1971. Retrieved 3 June 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-UofPitts_4-0)** ["Gloria Skurzynski Papers"](http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/f/findaid/findaid-idx?c=ascead&type=simple&q1=skurzynski&rgn=Entire+Finding+Aid&size=25). *University Library System*. University of Pittsburgh. Retrieved 3 June 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Skurzynski, Gloria (1979). [*What happened in Hamelin*](https://archive.org/details/whathappenedinha00skur). New York: Four Winds Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780590076258](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780590076258). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-BYUfindingaid_6-0)** H. Christine Swindler (2013). "[Gloria Skurzynski papers](http://archives.lib.byu.edu/repositories/14/resources/11234)". Prepared for the L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Provo, UT. Retrieved June 3, 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-cumberland_news_7-0)** ["Pageant Features Thinking Day"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/18330027/?terms=Gloria%2BSkurzynski). The Cumberland News. 28 Feb 1964. Retrieved 3 June 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-gloria_books_8-0)** ["Awards"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160310130737/http://gloriabooks.com/awards.html). *GloriaBooks.com*. Archived from [the original](http://gloriabooks.com/awards.html) on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-simon_&_Schu_9-0)** ["Gloria Skurzynski"](http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Gloria-Skurzynski/1054566). Simon & Schuster. Retrieved 3 June 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Jacket_Flap_10-0)** ["About Gloria Skurzynski"](http://www.jacketflap.com/gloria-skurzynski/56802). *Jacket Flap*. Retrieved 3 June 2016. ## Further reading - *Contemporary Authors Online*. The Gale Group, 2007. PEN (Permanent Entry Number): 0000091922. ## External links - [Children's literature portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Children%27s_literature) - [Official website](http://gloriabooks.com) - [Gloria Skurzynski](https://lccn.loc.gov/n79045103) at the [Library of Congress](/source/Library_of_Congress), with 63 library catalog records ### Archival materials - [The Gloria Skurzynski papers](http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/f/findaid/findaid-idx?c=ascead;cc=ascead;q1=skurzynski;rgn=main;view=text;didno=US-PPiU-sc201302) at the University of Pittsburgh - [Gloria Skurzynski papers, MSS 2330](http://archives.lib.byu.edu/repositories/14/resources/11234) at [L. Tom Perry Special Collections](/source/L._Tom_Perry_Special_Collections), [Harold B. Lee Library](/source/Harold_B._Lee_Library), [Brigham Young University](/source/Brigham_Young_University) - [Gloria Skurzynski Papers, 2002-2010, MSS 304](http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv00512) at Special Collections and Archives, [Boise State University](/source/Boise_State_University) Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND WorldCat National United States Netherlands Poland Israel Other Open Library SNAC Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Gloria Skurzynski](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_Skurzynski) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_Skurzynski?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.