Idella Bodie retired as a high school English
and Creative Writing teacher from South Aiken High School in 1985 after teaching
for 31 years. Mrs. Bodie has been writing for young readers for nearly forty
years. Her first book, The Secret of Telfair Inn, published in
1971 by Sandlapper Publishing is still in print. She is now the author of
26 books for upper elementary and middle school students. Her books
involve South Carolina history and geography and have been incorporated into
school curriculums across South
Carolina. She
completed a series about heroes and heroines of the Revolutionary War after
eight and a half years of researching and writing.
Mrs. Bodie says she writes about more than historical places in South Carolina.
“I always try to focus on the people when I write about history,” she
said. “Character is the most important thing."
Idella Bodie was born in Ridge Spring, South
Carolina. She holds a degree in English from Columbia College.
She is a
contributor to
Highlights, Cricket,
Mature Living and to
Guideposts Magazine, She is
listed in Gale’s Something About the Author (volumes 12 and 89), which
can be found in the research section of public libraries.
Awards and honors include:
Three of her books have been South
Carolina Book Award nominees.
A 1980 winner of the
Guideposts National Writing Competition
The Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution honored
her for the Heroes and Heroines of the American Revolution
series.
South Aiken High School has a writing award in her honor.
Her Alma Mater, Columbia College, presented her the Wil Lou
Gray Outstanding Educator Award in 1988, and Toastmasters, the
International Communication Award.
South Carolina Library gave her a lifetime membership for
the preservation of South Carolina's literary heritage.
Honored as
“Pickens-Salley Southern Woman of Distinction” by USC Aiken
Rachel's story shares the gripping reality of a child's
life forever changed by the harshness of the world and
teaches the lessons of forgiveness and understanding....Rachel
Johnson, The Aiken Standard.
In the colonial period of South Carolina’s
history, many settlers traveled down the Great Wagon Road to
join other families headed toward a new life. Land was free.
Settlers could simply stake a claim. The problem was,
Native Americans already lived on these lands. The
belief was the land belonged to the Great Holy Mystery and it could
not be owned—it was to be shared by people and animals. Some tribes attacked
the settlers who came to cut down trees and build homes.
Rachel and her family journey down the Great
Wagon Road to join their relatives in South Carolina and
start a new life. When their wagon breaks down and her
family is attacked by Native Americans, Rachel finds herself
forced to live without her parents. This historical
novel is based upon actual events and shares an important
moral message along with teaching about the challenges of
the colonial period.
This series of twelve biographies
spotlight men and women whose acts of bravery during America’s
Revolutionary War contributed to the end of British rule in the
colonies. These stories portray individuals who lived in South Carolina
or in some way served in the 137 battles fought in South Carolina. The
books are suitable for grades three to eight. Each illustrated volume
includes a map, glossary, bibliography, and suggested classroom
activities.
More info...
Winner of the
Outstanding Patriot Award from the Cambridge Chapter of the South Carolina
Chapter of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.
Winner of
a Certificate Award for Excellence in Community Service from the South
Carolina Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American
Revolution
Historical
Fiction
THE SECRET OF TELFAIR INN Illustrations by Louise Yancey
Marcy and Phil Dunlap come with their parents from the North
to Aiken, where their father is doing historical research.
The family stays at Telfair Inn (patterned after the
Willcox), which is in a state of dilapidation.
Suspenseful adventure of three kids
stranded on Lake Murray with an escaped convict.
More info...
Biography
SOUTH CAROLINA WOMEN:
Revised and Expanded
Profiles fifty-one
"Palmetto" women, from colonial to current times. Written to appeal
to readers of all ages, the book is especially intended to help young people
appreciate the contributions women have made to this state and the nation.
More info...
Autobiography
CAROLINA GIRL: A Writer's Beginning
An entertaining account of
"one writer's beginning." More
info...
Fiction for young readers
WHOPPER Illustrations by Gay Haff Kovach
Howard McDougal finds school boring, especially with strict
Miss Lail who taught his father.
More info..
A
Creative Writing Teacher's Guide to WHOPPER
The purpose of this guide is to assist in incorporating the
teaching and creative writing into the language arts
curriculum.
More info..
GHOST TALES for Retelling
Twenty seven spine tingling scary stories short enough to
remember and retell.
More info...
To order call
Sandlapper Publishing 800-849-7263 or
EMAIL
Submit your comments and reviews to
sales@sandlapperpublishing.com.
