Entranceway to the Jennifer Fisher Nancy Drew Collection at the Toledo Lucas County Public Library
From childhood fandom to literary preservation, one woman has spent decades helping safeguard Nancy Drew’s legacy while building a community for readers who have never stopped believing in the iconic sleuth.
Before there were conventions, archives, or dedicated museum-style collections, there were simply readers.
Readers like Jennifer Fisher, who grew up devouring Nancy Drew mysteries before eventually becoming arguably Nancy Drew’s foremost historian and preservationist, having donated more than 5,000 objects of her own for fans to explore and enjoy at the world’s largest collection of Nancy Drew materials.
And readers like me, a little girl growing up in Toledo with her own shelves full of Nancy Drew mysteries, who also once convinced a furniture store to sell her parents a Nancy Drew book that had been set up as part of a mock–living room display.
Decades later, those two parallel reading journeys converged inside the Toledo Lucas County Public Library, where Fisher’s expansive Nancy Drew Collection now draws visitors from around the country, fans who make literary pilgrimages to see the collection in person.
As Nancy Drew approaches her 100th anniversary, Fisher is working to continue to preserve rare artifacts and publishing history alongside her organizations, the “Nancy Drew Book Fans” and the “Nancy Drew Sleuths,” providing fans with a place to gather and a sense of belonging in celebration of a beloved fictional teenage detective.
In our conversation for SCBWI, Fisher discusses fandom, literary preservation, storytelling authenticity, and why Nancy Drew still resonates nearly a century later.
Philana Marie Boles visits the Jennifer Fisher Nancy Drew Collection during the series’ 95th Anniversary Conference.
Every writer wants to create something that lasts. A book that sells. A story world where readers return again and again, across years, even generations. Little House on the Prairie. The Chronicles of Narnia. Harry Potter. And nearly 100 years after its first publication, Nancy Drew.
Even if it isn’t one’s goal to write a multi-book series, the principles behind Nancy Drew’s staying power apply across genres and formats for all writers to consider. Readers connect with characters they enjoy, understand, and trust.
Originally written for girls aged 12–16, Nancy Drew has expanded into more than 600 mysteries since its debut in 1930 and an IP world that now includes a series for even younger readers, one with college-era stories, a modern reboot, and a contemporary relaunch. Television, film, and video games have sustained a global readership spanning generations, and Nancy Drew is arguably the earliest and most enduring example of a scalable story world.
**Note: The SCBWI-L.A. Mentorship is a six-month program that alternates between various categories of writing and illustrating. In this post, our 2025 winner, author Julia Edwards, shares her experience with the program. The 2026 mentor will be announced at the end of the post.**
by Julia Edwards
Last year, I was the lucky winner of the SCBWI-L.A. Mentorship Contest and got to work with middle-grade author Sherry Shahan for six months on my manuscript I Speak for the Trees.
Mentee Julia Edwards and mentor Sherry Shahan in conversation
I am so glad I met this human! She is enthusiastic, she asks essential questions, she elucidates truths. She dove into her own research to understand the heart of my story, and we had deep conversations about eco-anxiety, the Wood Wide Web of mushroom fibers that allows trees to communicate, women’s climbing camps, and more.
Have you ever thought about writing nonsense poetry for children? It holds such great appeal, and librarians will tell you that poetry collections of this genre are among the favorite books that kids take home.
What makes nonsense poetry so popular? Perhaps most important, it is whimsical and imaginative. But rather than trying to define it further (since its borders are ever-widening), looking at some common elements is probably more useful.
Wordplay
“Betty Botter bought some butter, But she said this butter’s bitter…”
Who among us as children didn’t try to repeat “Betty Botter Bought some Butter” or “Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers”? These tongue twisters,classics that have been with us for centuries, offer an engaging challenge to kids when reading them aloud or memorizing them. Today there are even whole books written with that style, for example, Margaret Mahy’s Bubble Trouble.
Tweaking words in humorous ways for the sake of rhyming is another time-honored technique. Chris Harris, in his poem “The Modern Dinosaur,” cleverly messes with our language by using “thinked” as a punch line set-up for “extinct.” And in “The Hungry Giraffe,” he pairs “swallow” with an unexpected “tomallow.”
While the parchment in Eori Tokunaga’s illustration is blank, the scene is bursting with possibility. From the mouse hefting pen to paper to the caterpillar munching an impressionistic pattern to the ants marching in to make their own mark, each critter seems poised to create in its own way. So, it’s no surprise that this illustration was selected as the winning entry in the contest to create the theme art for SCBWI-L.A.’s upcoming Writers & Illustrators Day.
The winning image represents an experience “bursting with possibility.”
Read on to learn more about Eori, her process, and what inspired her winning entry…
Sketch Crawls kicked off with a meet-up at the downtown Los Angeles Public Library
Los Angeles area kid lit creatives have a new, fun way to gather. Hosted by illustrator Laura Burris, the SCBWI-Los Angeles Sketch Crawls are free events open to all, SCBWI members and the general L.A. community alike.
The library atrium captured the artists’ imaginations
Jessica Cooper, illustrator coordinator for the region, shares her impression of last month’s inaugural event.
“We had such a fun time at the first SCBWI-Los Angeles Sketch Crawl, hosted by illustrator Laura Burris.
“We went to the Central Los Angeles Library where we sketched and explored the exhibits and beautiful architecture. The library was built in 1925, so they have a 100-year anniversary exhibition inside the library, complete with an opened 100-year-old time capsule.”
Upcoming Sketch Crawls are planned for later this spring and in the summer. They’re great opportunities to sketch, socialize, and soak up inspiration at some iconic spots around the city.
Jessica, Laura, and the entire L.A. regional team extend a warm invitation to all. “If you’re in the LA area and you’re a children’s book illustrator, writer or creator, come join us for our next Sketch Crawl event. Check out the SCBWI-L.A. homepage for more details.”
For more fantastic content, community, events, and other professional development opportunities, become a member today! Not sure if there is a chapter in your area? Check here.
Photos and graphics by Laura Burris; Artwork courtesy of Sketch Crawl participants.
“There’s nothing quite like sitting on the edge of your seat at the SCBWI-L.A. Writer’s Day, holding your breath as the winners of the contest are announced,” says author-artist Rilla Jaggia. “I’d done this before, never expecting to hear my name. But in March 2024, as the judge’s description was read, I knew the winning YA manuscript was mine. And there it was, the title of my work and my name on the giant screen. Surreal!”
Rilla Jaggia accepts Writers Day 2024 award from SCBWI-L.A. Contest Coordinator Brenda Scott Royce
As a previous winner myself (and our region’s Contest Coordinator), I can echo Rilla’s sentiments. The thrill is real, and to me, the morale boost that comes with winning (or placing) in any contest is more precious than the tangible prizes. Just entering can be a reward in itself, providing the motivation you need to polish your manuscript and send it out into the world.
So, I’m happy to announce that the contest is back! After a year’s hiatus, SCBWI-L.A. is hosting Writers & Illustrators Day in May 2026. And this year we are offering TWO contests: 1) The writers contest we’ve come to know and love, and 2) a brand new competition for illustrators.
SCBWI members’ publishing news is something to celebrate here at Kite Tales! Check out whose book is coming to a platform near you or around the world. Horn-tooting and digital high fives welcome in the comments!
I’ve been a proud member of SCBWI since the mid-1980s. I was a young, unpublished writer who met other dreamers at a National Convention in Southern California. Forty or so years later, we remain best of friends, with children’s books that cross age groups and genres. I was thrilled to be selected as the mentor for the 2025 SCBWI-Los Angeles Mentorship Contest for Middle Grade Authors. Giving back is a rewarding way to honor the many mentors who helped shape my career.
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