Francie Hall (1940–) Biography

Born 1940, in Canton, OH; Education: Attended University of Illinois; California State University, Los Angeles, B.A.; Appalachian State University, M.A. Hobbies and other interests: Travel, entertaining and cooking for guests, writing, reading, swimming, walking.

Addresses

Agent—c/o Publicity Director, Overmountain Press, Box 1261, Johnson City, TN 37605.

Career

Writer. Jungle Aircraft, Suriname, South Africa, radio control operator, 1965; writer and producer in Nairobi, Kenya, 1972–80; teacher and administrator in Watauga County, NC, schools, 1982–2000; currently supervising student teachers.

Writings

Appalachian ABC's, illustrated by Kent Oehm, Overmountain Press (Johnson City, TN), 1998.

Scottish Highland Games, illustrated by Kent Oehm, Overmountain Press (Johnson City, TN), 2002.

Author of scripts for slide presentations for non-profit organizations.

Francie Hall

Sidelights

Francie Hall told SATA: "My writing career began at age ten when I wrote my own scripts for a weekly radio program titled 'Kiddie Koncert.' Pagent Magazine wrote an article about me titled 'World's Youngest Disc Jockey' in 1950.

"At age twelve I spent three months traveling in thirteen European countries, visiting a school in each country. I wrote human-interest stories about my experience that were published in a series of twelve articles in Junior Scholastic magazine and what was then International News Service. I spoke to civic groups and was interviewed on the Today Show as well as Italian television networks. I wrote and produced a weekly educational television show for a government television station in Nairobi, Kenya for about eight years.

"As an educator, I taught and encouraged children to write. I have presented workshops on writing for teachers and students. My primary interest is to entertain and inform children about cultural surroundings and events. I also am focusing some current writing on virtues and inspiration.

"With my expansive experiences having lived overseas for thirteen years, I would like to extend my writings to chapter books for children and an adult novel (or series) based on my life experiences. The themes of these books would definitely include cross-cultural experiences and coming-of-age experiences with adventures and a certain amount of intrigue."