"Betty Dravis's ability to present real people, places, and things in the midst of a fantasy story is very close to what I strive for in my own writings. Characters with last names and problems who live in real places, but still have fantastical things happen to them, make for a wonderful story. "The Toonies Invade Silicon Valley" is truly a modern "James and the Giant Peach" or "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" kind of tale." - J. H. Sweet, author of The Fairy Chronicles.

BETTY DRAVIS was born in Hamilton, Ohio, one of seven children of John and Felda Barger. Her natural writing ability was nurtured by a "great Ohio school system, caring teachers, and a loving family."

She is a sensitive writer, adept in many genres. Her most recent novel is 1106 GRAND BOULEVARD (Just My Best Publishing, March 2006). It's an epic romantic thriller/family drama about her beautiful older sister and her seven marriages. Her second novel, THE TOONIES INVADE SILICON VALLEY (JMB Publishing, April, 2005), is a young adult fantasy adventure (geared for adults, as Harry Potter was). Her debut novel is an adult mystery adventure titled MILLENNIUM BABE: THE PROPHECY, December 2000. (To read a brief synopsis and first chapter of each book, please visit the BOOKS section.)

The TOONIES and GRAND are both out of print but still selling on the secondary market at Amazon.com Both are due to be republished in a few months. We will keep you posted on this website. Thanks for your continuing interest in all of Betty's books.

Betty Dravis is a retired newspaper publisher and long-time California journalist who also hosted a Cable TV talk show. Among her favorite all-time interview subjects are: Living Legend Clint Eastwood (actor and producer); Actress Jane Russell; Actor Dale Robertson; Singer/Actress Tanya Tucker; UFW founder, the late Cesar Chavez; U. S. Senator Ted Kennedy: Speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives, the late "Tip" O'Neill; and former San Francisco Mayor, the late Joe Alioto. (For photos of some of the celebrities Betty has interviewed, see the CELEBRITY section; for stories about these interviews, read DREAM REACHERS.)

This active woman is also an Amazon Top Reviewer and writes reviews for Midwest Book Review.

Among Betty's numerous awards are: certificates of accomplishment from the California State Assembly, Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, Stanford Heart Disease Prevention Program, United Way, etc. She was listed in two WHO's WHO books, is an honorary Kentucky Colonel, former member of Romance Writers of America, and former member of Sigma Delta Chi and San Jose Newspaper Guild.

Betty has four surviving children, two angels in Heaven, nine grandchildren, three "greats" and a brand-new great-great granddaughter, Melissa Jacqueline Chesnut, born March 28, 2009. Welcome to our world, precious baby! She confides that her children are "the magic" that heightens her creativity and motivates her to keep smiling as she moves ever onward, ever upward.

A long-time resident of Silicon Valley, she now resides in Northern California where she's currently writing a sequel to "The Toonies Invade Silicon Valley" ... titled "The Toonies Rock New York." She's fine-tuning a horror novel and a serial-killer thriller and has completed two children's picture books that she's preparing for the submission process.

Betty is also working to promote Stem Cell Research, along with her daughter Mindy James whose son Seth suffered a spinal cord injury in a MotoCross practice race. Read Seth's story at BRIDGES 2 HOPE.

Of writing, Betty says, "It's exhilarating––like sliding down a rainbow with a huge smile on my face, filled with love for the whole of God's magnificent creation." She laughs as she adds: "Yeah...and marketing is like trudging through a field of 'chewed' bubblegum on a hot, sticky day."