Bowman, Crystal J.
1951—
Place of Birth: Holland, MI
Place of Principal Residence: Grand Rapids, MI
Biography
Crystal was born in Holland, Michigan to Harold and Gerene Langejans in 1951. Crystal loved writing poems as a child, and wrote her first poem when she was 10 years old. Her teacher praised her work, and predicted that one day she would be a published author. Crystal went to Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, graduating with a BA in Elementary Education with a specialization in Math. She did not anticipate becoming a children’s author, poet and lyricist. After graduation from Calvin in 1973 and took Graduate classes at the University of Michigan for Early Childhood Education while teaching preschool. In her Children’s Lit class, Bowman discovered her love for Children’s Literature. She began her writing career in 1990 as a lyricist for children’s piano music, and now has written over fifty books. Her children, Rob, Scott, and Teri, have been credited by Bowman has being her principle source of inspiration. Bowman has even kept a journal of her children’s funny quips that greatly add to the quality of her books. In addition to writing, Bowman speaks at a variety of functions, including conferences and school writing workshops. Currently Bowman lives in Grand Rapids, MI and Palm Beach, Florida Gardens, Florida with her husband, Bob, of whom she has been married to for over thirty-five years.
Selected Works
- Children’s Piano Lyrics (1991-2001)
- Ivan and Dynamos (1997)
- If Peas Could Taste Like Candy (1998)
- Windmills and Wooden Shoes (1999)
- A Star for Jesus (2006)
- My Christmas Stocking (2006)
Relevance of Place to Author’s Work
For her writing Bowman relies heavily on her childhood memories and experience raising three children in Michigan.