Author Kelly Bennett
Kelly Goldman Bennett writes books for children—both fiction and non-fiction. She has been writing professionally since 1986. Her work has also appeared in national magazines and newspapers.
At the moment, Kelly is obsessed with creating picture books. “Picture books are like icebergs,” she notes, “so much of what goes on goes unseen.” And revising picture book text is a lot like carving an ice sculpture. 
“I start with a big, messy jumble of words, pages of words, block of words and just start chipping away. When I’m finished, I hope what’s left is as pure and simply stated as I can write it.” While she’s chipping away, Kelly imagines pictures to go with her words—but she never shares them. Instead, she strives to leave lots of space in her stories for the illustrator to fill with art.
Kelly’s picture books include NOT NORMAN: A GOLDFISH STORY (Candlewick Press), inspired by her own funny goldfish, and named the Texas Institute of Letters Friends of Austin Public Library’s Best Children’s Book for 2005, a Children’s Choice Award and Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Medal winner.
DANCE, Y’ALL, DANCE, illustrated by Terri Murphy and published by Bright Sky Press, is Kelly’s newest picture book. It's a two-steppin', swingin' & twirlin' Dance Hall romp.
A native of California, Kelly graduated from Huntington Beach High School in 1976. (Yep, she’s been around awhile.) Upon receiving an Associate of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts from Fullerton College, she continued her education at the University of California at Fullerton and California State University at San Jose, where she majored in Communications with a Public Relations emphasis. Kelly is a graduate of the Vermont College Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults program.
Kelly participates in writing workshops and conferences, and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and the Author’s Guild.
As a child, Kelly wrote her feelings rather than speak them aloud—a practice she believes led her to the writing life she enjoys today. Her greatest inspiration springs from adventures with her children, Max and Alexis, and her husband, Curtis. Kelly divides her time between her home in Jakarta, Indonesia and Houston, Texas.
