Growing up in Kent, WA, I loved reading and storytelling. I started writing plays in the fourth-grade. I'd cast my friends in the roles and our teacher, Mrs. Zielinski, would let us perform them for the class and sometimes, the whole school! After earning a B.A. from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA, I became a TV news reporter and weather forecaster, first for KAPP TV in Yakima, WA then KREM TV in Spokane, WA. My first book contract for kids was a weather series for Scholastic Library Press. A few years later came my debut fiction series, Julep O'Toole (Penguin). Since then, I've published more than 100 fiction and nonfiction titles for young readers. With the release of the EXPLORER ACADEMY series, I became the first author to write fiction for National Geographic (a huge thrill!).

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Here's an interview with Trudi about her Explorers Academy series! (start at 2:47 - 6:14, 13:40-14:30)

Visit our Book Trailer page to watch trailers for The Explorers Academy Series
Visit Trudi at truditrueit.com
Excerpt Chapter 1