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AUGUST 2017
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Changing the
World, One
Reader at a
Time
How two indie authors
turned a series of chapter
books into a franchise
BY MATIA BURNETT
Janelle Diller and Lisa Travis were friends long before they were coauthors. The creators of the Pack-n-Go Girls series of
chapter books, aimed at girls ages six to nine
(of course, boys are welcome, too), met more
than 20 years ago. The two have a long professional relationship, having worked
together at a community college, a tech firm,
and a talent management firm. Perhaps
most importantly, they also have a mutual
love for world travel.
So, when Travis came up with the idea to
write a children’s book series that features
diverse girl characters on travel adventures,
Diller—who has published novels for adults,
including Never Enough Flamingos and The
