Me and my dog Kipper. His insecurities inspired my idea to write from a dog's point of view.

Me and my dog Kipper. His insecurities inspired my idea to write from a dog's point of view.

Bio (Official version)

Fleischman Honor Award winner Victoria J. Coe is the author of FENWAY AND HATTIE, the Global Read Aloud for Early Readers, Amazon Teachers’ Pick, and “One School, One Book” favorite. She’s also written three additional FENWAY AND HATTIE books, a 4-book chapter book series called MAKE WAY FOR FENWAY! (winner of numerous awards and honors), as well as EZRA AND THE MOUSE: The Search for Lafayette, a stand-alone middle grade historical adventure set in her hometown of Duxbury, Massachusetts.

She often visits elementary schools where she takes students “behind the scenes” of her books, conducts fun workshops on point-of-view writing, and shares tips about reading and writing. A lifelong “passionista” when it comes to perspective, Victoria loves to speak to educators and librarians about the accessibility of animal stories and how they can lead to broadening a young reader’s worldview.

About Me (Longer version!)

I grew up in Duxbury, Massachusetts, a small town on Boston’s South Shore. In our house, there were two parents, two girls, one boy, and one very protective German Shepherd. I was a huge fan of books, dogs, and the Boston Red Sox, but I also loved hockey, ballet, and playing the flute.

My family lived on a cul-de-sac with lots of kids and dogs. In the winter, the whole neighborhood gathered to skate on the cranberry bog. And when school got out, we’d be at the beach all summer long.

Even though I devoured books, I never thought I’d become a writer. I went to college in New York City where I majored in math and went on to business school. After graduation, I moved to San Francisco and spent many years helping non-profit organizations make the world a better place.

When I became a mom, I read to my kids the same books I’d loved when I was young. I realized those books were more than just stories – they were part of my life.

Our family read hundreds of books together, old and new. Whether they made us laugh or kept us guessing, those books gave us the power to wonder or understand or look at the world in new ways.

Some time after we moved back to Massachusetts, I caught the writing bug and learned all I could about the craft. When I noticed our dog’s frantic behavior during a recent move, an idea was born. Now I write stories in the voice of a dog named Fenway, connecting my past and my present every day.    

I live with my husband in both Boston and my hometown of Duxbury. While we will miss our dog Kipper forever, we are grateful that he kept us safe from delivery trucks. And squirrels. 

A portrait of me at age three painted by my uncle.

A portrait of me at age three painted by my uncle.

As a little kid, I loved to wander through my grandmother's backyard waiting for my best buddies Pooh Bear and Piglet to show up.

As a little kid, I loved to wander through my grandmother's backyard waiting for my best buddies Pooh Bear and Piglet to show up.

In the summer, I lived in my swimsuit. (Still do!)

In the summer, I lived in my swimsuit. (Still do!)

 
When I was in middle school, our German Shepherd worked hard to protect me from evil.

When I was in middle school, our German Shepherd worked hard to protect me from evil.

In elementary school, I liked art and math better than reading or writing.

In elementary school, I liked art and math better than reading or writing.

I don’t remember wanting to become an author in high school, but this picture suggests otherwise!

I don’t remember wanting to become an author in high school, but this picture suggests otherwise!