Andrea Shapiro finds inspiration in small moments of history that resonate with the joys and struggles of modern life. Her projects span picture books to middle grade and young adult novels. With a focus on narrative nonfiction and historical fiction, Andrea combines relentless accuracy with immersing her reader in each moment.
For TWO THOUSAND MILES TO HAPPY (Muddy Boots, Winter 2023), she researched Earl Shaffer’s hike of the Appalachian Trail in 1948 and then showed his perseverance through sunshine or pouring rain. Andrea welcomes both the rewards and challenges of writing in this second chapter of her life following a long career in audiology. She’s honed her skills at the Highlights Foundation and Whale Rock Workshops as well as seeking out mentorship of established kidlit authors and editors.
Andrea divides her writing life between children’s literature (andreashapirowriter.com) and co-writing musical theater with her husband (shapirowriters.com.) Together, they enjoy taking walks near their home in suburban Washington DC, discovering the best chocolate sauce for ice cream, and detecting plot problems in their favorite movies.
Two Thousand Miles to Happy
In 1948 World War II veteran Earl Shaffer decided to “walk the war out of his system” and became the first person to report hiking the entire length of the Appalachian Trail in one, continuous journey. This children’s book tells the story of Earl’s remarkable journey of five million steps across fourteen states for over two thousand miles. “So, on a blustery April morning in 1948, Earl stood on a Georgia mountain peak, beside a weather-beaten sign, with a pack on his back and only the birds in the trees for company.” One hundred and twenty-four days later he stood atop Maine’s Mt. Katahdin in triumph. In 1965, he hiked the AT from north to south and became the first person to report a thru-hike of the AT in both directions.
