KATHRYN
CRYAN-HICKS

Author|Artist

“Derailed,” a middle-grade historical fiction novel, is a 2026 Children’s Book International Award Finalist and a contender for the Kirkus Indie Award. This book was inspired by a true incident that took place in 1911, on the Stony Brook Railroad between Westford and West Chelmsford, MA, when the train carrying Buffalo Bill and Pawnee Bill Lillie's Wild West show derailed.

The True Story
On May 24, 1911, a train carrying the famous “Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Pawnee Bill's Great Far East Show” (the “Two Bills Show”) derailed in the middle of the night en route to Lowell, MA. Crew members and local residents worked together to round up escaped animals. Performers staged an impromptu show before continuing on to Lowell for their scheduled performance.

The Novel
Thirteen-year-old Gretta Anderson is on the verge of giving up her dreams of continuing her education and becoming a newspaper reporter—until a train carrying the “Two Bills Show” derails in her small village. Set during a time of rapid social change, immigration, and the golden age of Wild West shows, “Derailed” follows Gretta’s journey of courage, ambition, and self-discovery.

Teachers: see the "Resources for Teachers" webpage for classroom activities.

Available Locally:

Chelmsford's Summer Street Grocers

Picture Yourself! Central Square, Chelmsford

LaLa Books, Lowell

"Derailed" is also available through your local bookstore as well as online via Amazon and Ingram

ABOUT MY WRITING

I've always enjoyed writing. From my early teens, I turned to writing to express myself and to clarify my thinking. I kept diaries, and wrote short stories and poetry. In college, writing research papers was a challenge I loved to take on. At UMass Amherst in the mid-1970’s, I worked as a secretary to Chinua Achebe, celebrated author from Nigeria. Our office was across the hall from visiting professor, Shirley Graham DuBois. This was when I first learned of the achievements of her late husband, Dr. W.E.B. DuBois. The seed was planted for my first book.

It wasn’t until the early 1990’s, that I started writing that book. I was working in the Reference Department of my hometown Library, when I was laid off due to budget cuts. I approached Joanne (Weisman) Deitch, the owner of a small publishing company in Lowell, Discovery Enterprises. Joanne published my first book, W.E.B. DuBois: Crusader for Peace, as well as my second, Pride and Promise: the Harlem Renaissance. The Library eventually called me back to work full time, and I placed my writing career on hold.

A routine reference call at the Library around 1998, planted the seed for "Derailed," my latest work. The caller asked about a circus train that derailed in West Chelmsford in the early 1900’s. After doing the research to answer her question, I couldn't get the story out of my head. Over the years I found more details from books and old newspaper accounts. I even interviewed an elderly neighbor who shared his first-hand account of seeing performers from the Wild West Show at the train station the morning the train derailed, May 24, 1911. After I retired, I brought all my research together and wrote "Derailed." Joanne Deitch guided me through the editing, printing and publishing process. In 2025, I founded my own imprint, School Street Publishing Company.

Home: About

ABOUT MY ART

When I retired from the library, I took up pottery and painting and discovered how much visual art can inform the process of writing. Art has taught me to stop worrying about perfection, to become comfortable with ambiguity, and to enjoy the creative process.

In pottery, I often let the clay guide what it becomes. My teacher, Sharon Levy, used to say, “We work best when we get out of our own way,” and she often reminded us that our pottery should tell a story. I try to take the same approach to writing—stepping back and letting my characters show me where they are going.

When I began painting, my painting instructor Denise Rainis, echoed Sharon’s advice: “Your painting should tell a story.” Writing teachers say something similar when they encourage writers to paint a picture for the reader.

Whether we are writing, painting, or shaping clay, we are doing the same essential thing—expressing ourselves and telling our stories. And through our stories, we connect with one another.

Upcoming: In addition to showing my work in group exhibits through the Chelmsford Art Society and the Arts League of Lowell, I will hold my first solo exhibit at the Bull Run Restaurant in Shirley, MA in October 2026, through Gallery Sitka.

Home: About

ABOUT ME

Before college, I worked a variety of jobs—picking strawberries, scooping ice cream, and babysitting. I also spent summers working in the last textile mill in Lowell, saving enough to take my first trip to Italy and to work in summer theater on Cape Cod.

I graduated from Emerson College in Boston and later attended film school and graduate programs at UMass Amherst and Boston University. Over the years, I wrote for newspapers and worked in public relations in the healthcare industry.

In 1986, while raising young children, I began working at my hometown library as a Reference Specialist. That position eventually grew into a full-time role, and I retired in August 2016 as Assistant Director of Programming & Community Relations.

Since retiring, I’ve had the time and energy to return to writing—completing several manuscripts I set aside years ago and beginning many new projects.

My husband and I have three children and four granddaughters. I am a member of Chelmsford’s Climate Action Team, the Learning in Retirement Association (LIRA), the Chelmsford Art Society, and the Arts League of Lowell. I am a long-time member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and illustrators (SCBWI), and recently joined Women in Publishing (WIP).

Home: About

Art Updates

The pandemic gave me time to learn new skills. I taught myself how to "paint" on my new iPad Pro and experimented with iMovie to merge paintings with my poetry. It's so much fun!