Denise Lewis Patrick

The Secret Is Out!

For the first time, American Girl is introducing two historical characters at once, and I've had the great experience of creating one of them. Cecile Rey is a free girl of color in 1850's New Orleans, who forms a surprising friendship in the middle of one of the city's worst crises. Who is her new friend? What adventures do they share?

Find out by reading all of the six books that weave together the girls' lives and stories! Check out all the details, including book tour dates around the country and a video featuring the authors, at americangirl.com.

Book One: Meet Marie-Grace
Book Two: Meet Cecile*
Book Three: Marie-Grace and the Orphans
Book Four: Troubles For Cecile*
Book Five: Marie-Grace Makes a Difference
Book Six: Cecile's Gift*


*There's more in my "Selected Works" column on the right!

Welcome!

I've been writing since I was eight years old. Over the years, I've written almost continously on scraps of paper, paper bags, napkins--whatever was handy to capture my ideas. Although in college I was tempted to pursue an art career, writing won out. Now I write mostly on my laptop.

I just love writing! To date, I've had more than 35 books published for preschoolers, beginning readers, and middle graders. I have written educational materials for students and teachers. I've had poetry published in Mobius, The Poetry Magazine, and recently published my own volume of poetry, Spirit Revisited.

And by the way, my "inner artist" is still active. I design and make special gift books for my family every Christmas, I still sketch and paint a bit. I make cloth dolls of all types from my stash of fabrics, buttons, and ribbons. I've worked up the nerve to try my hand at illustrating,too, so stay tuned!