Candice Ransom

Candice Ransom was born in the District of Columbia on Thursday, July 10th. She is Thursday’s Child, who has far to go. This could mean she is on a long journey, or that she will never get where she is going. Some days she thinks it’s the latter. Since she was ten years old Candice knew she was born at the wrong end of the century. She should have been born in 1900. Of course she’d be dead now, but that’s better than dealing with the 21st century which she despises.

When Candice was in elementary school, her teachers often asked where the students were from. Since many were children of military families they replied, “Guam,” “Texas,” “Hawaii,” “California.” Not to be outdone, Candice answered that she was born in the United States, but not in any state. She clarified she was born in the District of Columbia, not Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. is a Federal city while the District is where real people live. Candice enjoyed annoying her teachers.

Despite her irritating tendencies, she has managed to write more than 100 books for children. Only one, a forthcoming picture book, is set in the District of Columbia. Candice grew up in nearby Virginia on the site of a Union camp and dug up bullets for fun. She now lives in Fredericksburg on the edge of the Chancellorsville battlefield. She doesn’t intentionally live on Confederate battlefields, but in Virginia it’s hard not to.

If you’d like to send Candice a little birthday present, she is fond of vintage children’s books and chocolate. But don’t feel obligated.