MEET B.A. BINNS

2010 RWA Golden Heart Finalist

I grew up on the south side of Chicago, Illinois, the eldest of five children. Which meant, while I didn’t have to put up with hand-me-downs, I was forced to learn to share early in life. I also learned to assume control.

After my parents divorced I assumed the role of chief parental assistant in charge of taking care of anyone younger than me. By the time I went to college, I was strictly management material. And oh so thankful for the freedom.

Yes, freedom. Kids, don't let anyone fool you, college is sooo much better than high school.

I became a professional student and never wanted to leave. Even after I entered the work world by taking a computer programming job for AT&T, I kept finding excuses to return to school. The University of Wisconsin, Michigan State University, Depaul University, Roosevelt, Chicago State, and Harper College, I’ve found excuses to haunt their halls one time or another over the years.

When I finally ran out of schools I became a trainer. Actually, I got the job making the rules and then training people on how to follow those rules. (Told you I learned to assume control.)

I raised one child, retired early, and now spend my days volunteering—and writing. Writing is a major exercise in self-discipline, something my life has given me tools for.

Now I am the author of books that explore multicultural themes: PULL (2010), and Die Trying (2012). My third book, Being God, will be released in 2013. I also teach on-line writing classes, and have presented workshops on subjects such as Reaching Reluctant Readers, Multicultural literature, and Non-traditional Romances, at the Illinois Reading Council, Waukesha (Wi) Festival of Books, the Ohio Educational Library Media Association, the Indiana Library Federation, the Assembly for Adolescent Literature, DePaul University, and the Virginia Hamilton Conference on Multicultural Literature for Children.

I love speaking with students and aspiring authors. I have spoken to students at Chicago Public Schools, in a number of suburbs and libraries, with inmates at the Joliet Youth Correctional Center, and students at a therapeutic day school. She leads a writers group at her local library in Illinois, and serves as contest coordinator for the Chicago North Fire and Ice writing contest. Feel free to contact me if you are interested in having me meet with your students in person or via Skype.

What others are saying about B. A. Binns

Oct. 23 2011 issue of the Daily Herald Newspaper

Jan 1, 2011 issue of the Daily Herald online

Oct. 23 2010 issue of Portland Examiner

I would love to hear from you. Just go to my contact page and let me know what you think about me, my site, my book or anything else that's on your mind. I promise to get back to you as soon as possible. And thanks for visiting.

Librarians and Teachers please note: I am available for school, library and other visits on request. Click here to download a brochure with more information on me, Pull, and arranging a school or library visit.

Send me a message via the contact page, or send your email to atcol [at] babinns [dot] com, with the subject line:Requesting a Visit.

About ME

I love to read, and my taste runs all over the place. My current favorite books include Hero, by Perry Moore Favorite scene: Thom and his father, as Thom realizes how wrong he’s been about the man, how alike they really are, and that he has always been loved just before his father sets out to save the world.

The Demon’s Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan

Favorite scene: The hero realizes that home is a concept that, once understood, can never really be abandoned.

Liar, by Justine Larbalestier

Favorite Scene: This one defies description. I’ll just say that whichever version of the heroine’s story is the truth, if any of them are, the ending left me seeing the real price one pays when you make lying so much a part of your everyday life that even you don’t know the true truth.

Reversible Errors, by Scott Turow

Favorite Scene: I sometimes pick up Reversible Errors just to re-read the last three pages and experience again the realization that the unlikely hero is uniquely positioned to be the only person on earth to give the heroine exactly what she needs to help her hang on.