# Linda Bailey

Linda Bailey (born 1948) is a Canadian author who has written dozens of books for children, including Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein, and the Stevie Diamond mystery series. In 2021, she received the Vicky Metcalf Award for Literature for Young People, an honour bestowed by the Writers' Trust of Canada to Canadian writers and illustrators whose work has been "inspirational to Canadian youth".

## Person life and education

Born in 1948, Bailey was born and raised in Winnipeg. She enjoyed reading from an early age and cites public libraries and a bookmobile in Winnipeg as her largest influences.
As a young adult, Bailey briefly lived in Melbourne, Australia before returning to Canada. She studied English at the University of British Columbia, where she earned both a Bachelor's and a master's degree.
She is the mother of two daughters, including prominent evolutionary ecologist Tess Grainger.

## Literary career

In 1992, Bailey published her first book, How Come the Best Clues are Always in the Garbage?, the first installment in the Stevie Diamond mystery series. The story follows Stephanie, a sixth-grade girl from Vancouver who investigates the theft of money from her mother's charity project. Bailey published a total of seven books in the series between 1992 and 2002.
In addition to the Stevie Diamond books, Bailey is also the author of the middle-grade series "Good Times Travel Agency," which follows the adventures of the time-travelling Binkerton family on their trips through history.
Bailey has published almost 40 books over the course of her career.

### Awards and honours

In 2021, Bailey earned the Vicky Metcalf Award for Literature for Young People by the Writers' Trust of Canada.
Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein was listed as a Best Book of the Year by Booklist, Publishers Weekly, the New York Public Library, and The Globe and Mail, among others.
Awards for Bailey's writing :
| Year | Title | Award | Result |
| 1995 | How Can I Be A Detective If I Have To Babysit? | Forest of Reading Silver Birch Award | Finalist |
| 1997 | How Can a Frozen Detective Stay Hot on the Trail? | Arthur Ellis Award for Best Juvenile or Young Adult Crime Book | Winner |
| 2000 | How Can A Brilliant Detective Shine in the Dark? | Arthur Ellis Award for Best Juvenile or Young Adult Crime Book | Winner |
| 2000 | How Can A Brilliant Detective Shine in the Dark? | Forest of Reading Silver Birch Award for Fiction | Finalist |
| 2001 | Adventure in the Middle Ages | Forest of Reading Silver Birch Award for Nonfiction | Winner |
| 2002 | The Best Figure Skater in the Whole Wide World | Forest of Reading Blue Spruce Award | Finalist |
| 2003 | Adventures in the Middle Age | Red Cedar Award for Nonfiction | Winner |
| 2003 | Adventures with the Vikings | Forest of Reading Silver Birch Award for Nonfiction | Finalist |
| 2003 | Adventures with the Vikings | Hackmatack Children's Choice Book Award | Winner |
| 2004 | Adventures in Ancient China | Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize | Finalist |
| 2004 | Adventures in Ancient China | Forest of Reading Silver Birch Award for Nonfiction | Finalist |
| 2004 | Stanley’s Party | Chocolate Lily Young Readers’ Choice Award | Winner |
| 2004 | Stanley’s Party | Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize | Winner |
| 2004 | Stanley’s Party | Forest of Reading Blue Spruce Award | Winner |
| 2004 | Stanley’s Party | Shining Willow Award | Winner |
| 2006 | Adventures in the Ice Age | Hackmatack Children's Choice Book Award | Winner |
| 2007 | Stanley’s Party | Time To Read: The BC Achievement Foundation Award For Early Literacy | Winner |
| 2007 | Stanley’s Wild Ride | Forest of Reading Blue Spruce Award | Finalist |
| 2008 | The Farm Team | Forest of Reading Blue Spruce Award | Finalist |
| 2008 | Stanley’s Wild Ride | Chocolate Lily Young Readers’ Choice Award | Winner |
| 2009 | Stanley At Sea | Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize | Finalist |
| 2009 | Stanley At Sea | Forest of Reading Blue Spruce Award | Finalist |
| 2009 | Stanley's Wild Ride | California Young Reader Medal | Winner |
| 2010 | Stanley’s Beauty Contest | Forest of Reading Blue Spruce Award | Finalist |
| 2012 | Stanley’s Little Sister | Chocolate Lily Young Readers’ Choice Award | Winner |
| 2012 | Stanley’s Little Sister | Forest of Reading Blue Spruce Award | Finalist |
| 2014 | Toads on Toast | Chocolate Lily Young Readers’ Choice Award | Winner |
| 2016 | If Kids Ruled the World | Forest of Reading Blue Spruce Award | Winner |
| 2017 | Seven Dead Pirates | Forest of Reading Silver Birch Award for Fiction | Finalist |
| 2017 | Stanley at School | Forest of Reading Blue Spruce Award | Finalist |
| 2018 | Under-the-Bed Fred | Chocolate Lily Award | Shortlist |
| 2020 | Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein | Forest of Reading Silver Birch Award | Finalist |
| 2021 | Princesses Versus Dinosaurs | Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize | Finalist |