Children's author in Tiffin

While you're out and about for Third Thursday downtown, come meet Ohio children's author Margaret Peterson Haddix at Pan Yan Bookstore, from 4-6 p.m., Thursday, 144 S. Washington St. The first 12 people at the event will receive a free limited-edition signed bookmark. Peterson Haddix grew up in Ohio on a farm near Washington Court House. She graduated from Miami University with degrees in English and journalism, English and creative writing and history. Before her first book was published, she worked as a newspaper copy editor in Fort Wayne, Indiana; a newspaper reporter in Indianapolis; and a community college instructor and freelance writer in Danville, Illinois. She has since written more than 40 books for kids and teens, including "Falling Out of Time," her newest novel and sequel to "Running Out of Time," "Double Identity," "Uprising," "The Always War," the Greystone Secrets series; the Shadow Children series; the Missing series; the Children of Exile series; the Under Their Skin duology; and The Palace Chronicles. She also wrote "Into the Gauntlet,: the tenth book in the 39 Clues series. Her books have been honored with New York Times bestseller status, the International Reading Association's Children's Book Award; American Library Association Best Book and Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers notations; and numerous state reader's choice awards. They have also been translated into more than twenty different languages. Haddix and her husband, Doug, now live in Columbus, Ohio. They are the parents of two grown kids.