Barbara Elizabeth Walsh

I first met the Poppy Lady in the attic of my home in Pennsylvania. I was ten-years-old, and my teacher had asked everyone to bring an item from home to share during Show and Tell. We were studying the effect war had on our country and other nations, and the items we brought in had to be war related. I searched through my Dad's box of World War II memorabilia and found the perfect Show and Tell item at the very bottom of the box. A postcard with a red poppy pinned to one corner. It was addressed to my Mom and signed, "Pat's Poppy Lady." But I was curious. Who was this Poppy Lady? And why had she written to my Mom? With postcard in hand I found my Dad and asked for an explanation. I was surprised by his reaction. His eyes filled with tears and his voice wavered as he spoke about Moina Michael and her kindness to him and his soldier buddies during the war. I wanted to find out more. Why had Moina been so kind? And where was she now? But it was the early 1960s, and Internet research was a long way off. Fifty years later, when I began writing for children, my Dad asked if I would tell Moina's story. It made him sad that people had forgotten his Poppy Lady and all she had done for soldiers and their families. It took eight long years to research and write Moina's story, and from the first draft my Dad watched over my writing. Once I signed the contract for The Poppy Lady my Dad said he wanted to talk something over with me. Our conversation went something like this: Dad: Will you make money when your book is published? Me: If people like it and buy it. Then yes, that should happen. Dad: What will you do with that money? Me: I really hadn't thought about it. Dad: But you won't keep it. Right? Me: I don't understand what you mean. Dad: The poppy was Moina's idea, but she didn't keep the money she raised. She gave it all to the soldiers and their families. Which made perfect sense to me. And that's why my portion of the book's proceeds will support the National Military Family Association's Operation Purple®, which benefits children of the U.S. military. In July, my Dad turned ninety-eight-years-old and finally held a copy of The Poppy Lady in his hands. This book is a dream come true for both of us. We hope you enjoy reading it!