When I was a librarian, kids loved books about the Titanic. I have to admit I was fascinated too. I never dreamed back then that I would actually write a book about the great ship, but I did!

It was fascinating learning even more about the fateful voyage. I had never known if they'd just hit the iceberg head on, they would have been better off and would have had more time to call for help.

In my story, A Titanic Friendship, a classroom of merkids go on an 'ocean trip' to study bacteria at the Titanic. Since they go inside the ship, I needed to study it. I even learned things that the rooms had in them and pondered what merkids would think they were. I also needed to study bacteria (and even though I married a scientist, my science background is not great!) To my surprise, I learned that a specific bacteria is eating the Titanic. Did you know in twenty years, it is predicted that the ship will be no more? Tiny bacteria will have destroyed it!

My biggest surprise was that my editor was not excited about a Titanic story. She suggested I write about a different sunken ship. After all, many people died aboard the Titanic. True and very sad. But wouldn't people have died on any sunken ship? To honor the people who died, I was very careful that the merkids were respectful in their visit.

For some reason, it reminded me of my trip to Pearl Harbor as I stood aboard the USS Arizona memorial. In both instances, many people lost their lives for completely different reasons. But the sadness and respect I felt visiting that memorial stayed with me. I wanted to impart that just a bit in this story.

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