Biography

I've wanted to be a writer ever since I can remember. I sold my first story based on my five-year-old son's trip to the library. It was called "Michael Joins the Library" and sold to a magazine called Storytime for $5.00! Since then, I have written and published many stories, articles and books. Several of my stories are based on childhood experiences of mine or that of my own four children. My husband Ben's background and adventures growing up have also inspired me to write down his experiences.
After my first sale, I enrolled in a writing course and sold an article to the Toronto newspaper, The Globe and Mail. It was called "Amusing the Sick Child." I followed the instructor's advice, "Write about what you know." I decided to go back to school. When I was 42 years old, I went to McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. I graduated with my B.A. the same year as my two daughters.

In the beginning, I enjoyed entering contests. Telling why I liked Lipton Soup netted me a clothes dryer. Naming the Sealy Girl "Spring Staress" earned a new mattress. I won a vacuum cleaner for creating the slogan "Don't Let Your Floors Floor You." A radio station called CHUM sent me money for telling what I would do if I ran into a mummy. That was easy! I'd unwrap him and throw his three sheets to the wind. At this rate, I could furnish my whole house in no time!

One of my favorite mother's day cards from my youngest son was,
"Hapy Mohair's Day,
Here's to yer carere if you got one. Luv Mark."
Which reminds me, did you know that you could sell children's cute sayings almost anywhere from the Reader's Digest and Woman's World to the National Inquirer?
I began to sell children's and Young Adult stories and adult articles to the U.S. and Canada. I waited a long time before I tried to write a book. I thought novel writing was no place for amateurs. A friend suggested that I write 10 children's stories in the form of chapters and I would have a book. It's true! It worked, and I sold my first novel, Mice at Centre Ice, to Nelson Canada on its sixth trip to the publishers. It sold 90,000 copies before it was officially retired in September 2001.
Writing is a satisfying career. I am never bored because I never know what exciting project is just around the corner!

The Happy Journal of Tori Edwards, Stabenfeldt, 2004, 109 pages, ISBN 91-7117-592-X

Blue Ice (Young Adult inline hockey novel) Fitzhenry & Whiteside 2001, 123 pages, ISBN 1-55041-546-8

I Spy Private Eye (Grade 3+) ITP Nelson, 1998, 85 pages, ISBN 0-17-607421-X

Mice in Centre Field (Grade 3+) Nelson Canada, 1989, 127 pages, ISBN: 0-17-602589-8

Mice at Centre Ice (Grade 3+) Estelle Salata, 2004, 124 pages, ISBN: 0-9734436-0-X; Nelson Canada, 1984, 124 pages, ISBN: 0-17-602086-1

Susan and Sam Visit the Optometrist, Activity Book (Grades 1-6) Promark Printing, 1996, Revised). D.C. Heath, 1978, 16 pages , ISBN 1-895210-08-9

"Tales of the Mouse Hockey League" TV script for Marmalade Animation, 1/2 hour CBC special, March 1987

The Mixed-up Journal of Tori Edwards

Hold That Line! Further adventures of Benny the Bullet, Mizzy Mouse, Peppy la Pierre and Figaro the Flyer on the football field.

The Runaway Chair, sequel to I Spy Private Eye. A Ruth the Sleuth and Jake Hunter mystery. Grades 3 - 4. No case too small, we solve them all!

Mice in Centre Field, the adventures of Benny the Bullet, Figaro the Flyer, Peppy la Pierre and Mizzy Mouse has hit the auction block. It is out of print as of September 2001. Trade rights available.

Mice at Centre ice has been republished by the author, Estelle Salata 2004. Copies are now available from the author at:15-1/2 Beland Court, Hamilton ON   L8K 3T8. Trade rights available.

Vicky Metcalf Short Story Award, "Blind Date."
Tales of the Mouse Hockey League, CommCept Publishing
"Pioneer Christmas," Olympus publishing
"Ratatat Rataplan," Writing for Young Canada Award, Gage.

CANSCAIP (Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators and Performers)
The Writer's Union of Canada
Canadian Authors Association
Hamilton and Region Arts Council
SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators)