Nitz, Kristin Wolden 1964-

PERSONAL:

Born December 6, 1964, in Minneapolis, MN; daughter of Donald (an electrical engineer) and Roberta (a medical technologist) Wolden; married Kurt Nitz (an engineering manager), August 23, 1986; children: Gretchen, Sara, Calvin. Education: Michigan Technological University, B.S., 1987. Religion: Lutheran.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Zeeland, MI. E-mail—kwnitz@ charter.net.

CAREER:

Writer.

MEMBER:

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

WRITINGS:

Fundamental Softball, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 1997, revised edition published as Play by Play Softball, 2000.

Defending Irene (juvenile novel), Peachtree Publishers (Atlanta, GA), 2004.

Play by Play Track, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2004.

Play by Play Field Events, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2004.

SIDELIGHTS:

Kristin Wolden Nitz told CA: "In Italy, soccer isn't just the national pastime; it's the national passion. That's why I was surprised at first to discover that there wasn't a girls' program at the local soccer club where my son played. Girls would play for a few years and then drop out for swimming, skiing, volleyball, and basketball. I later learned that a girl who played soccer would be described as a ‘maschiaccio,’ which is a much less complimentary noun than tomboy. I wondered what would happen if an aggressive, talented American girl showed up at the clubhouse in cleats and shin guards. The events of Defending Irene illustrate my best guess.

"During the three-and-a-half years that my family spent in Merano, Italy, we were the local American community. My kids, who attended local schools, were my top research assistants for expressions, insults, and attitudes."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Faces: People, Places, and Cultures, October, 2005, review of Defending Irene.

School Library Journal, September, 2004, Blair Christolon, review of Defending Irene, p. 214.