Ronnie Arato: published first novel at 65

It’s never too late. Ronnie Arato publishes her first novel at 65

Most days find Ronnie Arato at her keyboard from mid-morning to late afternoon. She continues to research and write novels for children: a passion that came to her late in her writing career when she made a shift from freelance corporate writing.

Inspirational action: Published first novel at 65

Now 68, she had “Ice Cream Town”, her first children’s novel, published three years ago. She has published five books since she was 60, including two reference works earlier on, with one more novel due out this Fall, and three others in the works. Her book “Courage and Compassion” was Canadian Living’s Editor’s Pick in the Spring, It seems that Ronnie has hit her stride.

It wasn’t always this way. Born in New York and growing up in Los Angeles, to then become an elementary teacher, somewhere along the way she got married, had children, and moved to Toronto. She didn’t get back to teaching after the children came along, but instead started a writing career doing corporate publicity and public relations, as well as some journalism and writing and editing for not-for-profit organizations.

But, she had always wanted to get back to working with and writing for children. “This is what I had always wanted to do. I love dealing with children, I love the research, and I really enjoy learning new things,” said Ronnie. “So at 60 I thought to myself if I don’t do this now, then when will I get around to it?”

When she got serious she did a lot of networking with already published children’s writers, and joined a writers group. She attended industry events in Toronto where she got to know the publishers in person. Great strategy! When she submitted a proposal, the publishers already knew who she was, and that had to help.

“Then it was a lot of really hard work,” Ronnie explained. “I rewrote ‘Ice Cream Town’ three times, for example. Then the publishers took months to get back to me. You really have to have the patience of Jobe to do this.”

Though there isn’t a fortune to be made in writing for children, Ronnie does this because she loves it. While she still does some corporate work, she is concentrating on her new-found career as a children’s author, including going to schools to do readings, which keeps her in touch with her grades 5 to 7 audience.

“My writing introduces children to people, cultures and ideas they may not have been exposed to before. Many children in Canada don’t know about our own history or our heroes. I am most comfortable writing historical books, both fiction and non-fiction, and children enjoy learning how children lived a century ago. My book that comes out in the Fall, “On a Canadian Day”, has nine stories of children at pivotal times in Canadian history, such as a young girl coming through Pier 21 as a new immigrant.”

“By the time I get to the age of 90, I will become an overnight success!”, she joked.

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