Author Bio

Dori Hillestad Butler is the author of more than 60 books for young readers including the two-time Geisel Honor award winning King & Kayla series and the Edgar award winning Buddy Files series. She grew up in southern Minnesota, spent 19 years in Iowa and now lives in the Seattle area. When she’s not reading or writing, Dori enjoys hiking, board games, teaching her dog new tricks, and playing classical mandolin. She loves visiting schools and libraries all over the country and is eager to share her love of story with readers and writers of all ages. She’s served as a judge on multiple Edgar Award committees, an SCBWI Regional Advisor, a therapy dog partner, and mentor to many young writers.

When I was a kid, I used to tell people there were 26 kids in my family. One for every letter of the alphabet. The truth is I only have one brother. His name is Dave and he's 8 1/2 years younger than I am.
My mom was a nurse and my dad was a pharmacist. He and my grandpa had a drug store called Hillestad Drug. I used to feel pretty proud to see my last name on a store downtown. I wrote some of my earliest stories curled up under my dad's desk in the back room.
I've always wanted to be a writer, but I didn’t know I wanted to write for kids until I was in college.
I write full-time. Other than part time seasonal jobs here and there, the only other “job” I've ever held is “library page.” I worked in the library all through high school.
I am passionate about libraries. I currently hold library cards from six different library systems. Whenever my husband and I move to a new city (before we actually move!), the first place I go is the library. The library tells me everything I need to know about my new community.
I've been an active library volunteer most of my life. I've also served on the city library board and as president of the Friends of the Library.
I've had nine dogs and three cats throughout my life. I also have a plaque on my kitchen wall that says: A home without a pet is just a house.
My dog Mouse (pictured with me above) was the inspiration behind 21+ of my books. Unfortunately, he died in March of 2021. Later that summer we adopted Bear (pictured on the right). Perhaps he will inspire some books, too?
I have two grown children—Ben and Artemis. And a grandkitty named Simon. Simon was the inspiration behind my Dear Beast series.
I am pescatarian, which means I eat fish, but no other meat.
My favorite foods are fresh salmon, saag paneer, fried tofu and vegetables, Ethiopian shiro, my own vegetarian spaghetti sauce, homemade macaroni and cheese, soup, chocolate chip cookies and tea.
I do not like eggs or mushrooms.
I am not a sports fan. Most years, I won't even be able to name the teams who are playing in the Super Bowl. But I do know that's football! (Yay, me!) And even though I'm not into sports, I AM into fitness! I walk, jog, bike, hike, zumba and/or practice yoga every single day.
I have a ham radio license (WB0LBB) and I serve on my city's emergency communications team (which means if phones and internet are out, we'll still be able to communicate with the outside world). You can talk to people all over the world (and even on the International Space Station) with a ham radio license!
I love a good game of Scrabble, hiking in the mountains or the woods, and playing with the Seattle Mandolin Orchestra. What’s a mandolin orchestra? I'm so glad you asked! See below:

When my books were first published as e-books with Open Road Media, they sent a film crew out to Iowa to interview me and follow me around. I blogged about that HERE. Here are links to some of those videos:

THIS ONE is just about me.

Anna Perera, Patricia Reilly Giff, Peter Lerangis and I talk about "Turning Kids into Readers" HERE.

Jonathan Carroll, Dean Koontz, Rose Styron, Jean Craighead George, Patricia Gaffney and I talk about our dogs HERE.

Janet Taylor Lisle, Chris Raschka, Zilpha Keatley Snyder, Hilma Wolitzer, Patricia Reilly Giff, Patricia MacLachlan, Peter Lerangis and I talk about our fathers HERE.

And if you'd like to see my office, click HERE.

Bill Kenower interviewed me for Author Magazine HERE.

Read my interview with the Park Ridge Public Library Children's Staff HERE.

Read my interview with Seattle Mystery Bookshop HERE.