Marcia Thornton Jones (born July 15, 1958) is an American writer of children's books, the author or co-author of more than 135 elementary

chapter books A chapter book is a story book intended for intermediate readers, generally age 7–10. Unlike picture books for beginning readers, a chapter book tells the story primarily through prose rather than pictures. Unlike books for advanced readers, ...

, picture books, and mid-grade novels, including ''

The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids ''The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids'' (or, simply, ''The Bailey School Kids'') is a supernatural children's book series. The books in the series are co-authored by Marcia T. Jones and Debbie Dadey. John Steven Gurney is the original illus ...

'' series, among other works co-written with Debbie Dadey.

Biography

Jones was born in Joliet, Illinois. She has been an

elementary school A primary school (in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and South Africa), junior school (in Australia), elementary school or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary ed ...

teacher of first and third grades, computer lab, writing and reading, and Gifted & Talented. She has been a full-time writer since 1990. Her books are published by Scholastic, Tor, Dutton (Penguin Group), Hyperion Press (Disney), and F&W. She lives in

Lexington, Kentucky Lexington is a city in Kentucky, United States that is the county seat of Fayette County, Kentucky, Fayette County. By population, it is the List of cities in Kentucky, second-largest city in Kentucky and List of United States cities by popul ...

with her husband Stephen.

Works

;Nonfiction * ''Story Sparkers: A creativity guide for children's writers'', by Debbie Dadey and Jones (

Writer's Digest ''Writer's Digest'' is an American magazine aimed at beginning and established writers. It contains interviews, market listings, calls for manuscripts, and how-to articles. History ''Writer's Digest'' was first published in December 1920 under ...

, 2000)

Fiction

;Jones as sole writer * ''Godzilla Ate My Homework'' (Scholastic Little Apple, 1997) – chapter book for young readers * ''Champ'' (Scholastic, 2007) – children's novel * ''The Tale of Jack Frost'', illus. Priscilla Burris (Scholastic, 2008) – picture book * ''Leprechaun on the Loose'', illus. Cyd Moore (Scholastic, 2008) – picture book * ''Ratfink'', illus. C. B. Decker ( Dutton Children's Books, 2010) – children's novel ;Jones with co-writers *''Keyholders'' SERIES ( Tor Books Starscape, Fall 2009), wri. Dadey and Jones, illus. Adam Stower *''

'' (Scholastic, 1992–present), written by Debbie Dadey and Jones, illustrated by John Steven Gurney – SERIES, 65 titles *'' The Bailey School Kids Junior'' SERIES (Scholastic), Dadey and Jones, chapter books *''Bailey City Monsters'' SERIES (Scholastic), Dadey and Jones, illus. Gurney *''Ghostville Elementary'' SERIES (Scholastic, 2003–2007), Dadey and Jones, illus. Jeremy Tugeau (vols 1–4) and Guy Francis (illustrator) (vols 5-8) * ''Triplet Trouble and the Runaway Reindeer'', by Dadey and Jones, illus. John Speirs ( Scholastic Corporation, 1995) – first of a Triple Trouble series (1995–?) * ''Barkley's School for Dogs'' SERIES ( Hyperion Books for Children, 2001) * ''Ghost Dog'', Dadey and Jones, illus. Amy Wummer ( Hyperion Books for Children, 2001) * ''Ghosts Do Splash in Puddles'', Dadey and Jones, illus. Joëlle Dreidemy (2003)

References

;Other sources
Jones biography
at Scholastic Teachers – with transcript of 1997 interview by Scholastic students

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Marcia Thornton 1958 births American children's writers American horror writers Writers from Joliet, Illinois Living people