Former Chronicle School News reporter became best-selling author

By Jim Buckley

FORMER CHRONICLE SCHOOL NEWS REPORTER Jim Buckley poses with a favorite book.

To all those smiling faces in the School News columns of the Chronicle: Keep up the good work! It can really pay off!

I was one of those faces back in 1974 to ’77, writing about the happenings at John Burroughs Junior High and later Loyola High School. And I’ve kept typing ever since.

My words (and picture!) in the Larchmont Chronicle kicked off what has become a 40-year career in publishing and has taken me from working at the old Baskin-Robbins [on Larchmont Boulevard] to years at Sports Illustrated and the National Football League. Writing for the Chronicle got me started in journalism and nonfiction.

I’ve now written more than 250 books for kids—and former kids—on a wide range of topics (though, admittedly, mostly sports). The most famous books I’ve written (under my fancy author name, James Buckley Jr.) are my 25 titles in the New York Times-best-selling “Who Was…?” biography series. I’ve also written many books for Scholastic, as well as DK Publishing, National Geographic Kids, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as well as graphic work including the “Show Me History!” series. I’ve been busy, thank goodness. (Ask for them all at Chevalier’s, of course!)

I recently saw an issue of the Chronicle during a visit to my sister, Annie, who now lives on Larchmont Boulevard! She moved there last year, 50 years since our family arrived on Lucerne Boulevard from far-off New Jersey. (In fact, Annie and my other siblings, Tom and Alicia, also worked at B-R!)

ONE OF THE MANY books Jim Buckley, formally known as James Buckley Jr., has written.

For anyone still around from back then, I now live in Santa Barbara with my wife, Patty, (our wedding made the Chronicle 33 years ago!) and have two happy, grown-up kids.

So as I caught up on the news from my old nabe, I was so pleased to see that the Chronicle: A) remains alive and in print; and B) continues to offer young people the same chance I got lo, those many moons ag—the opportunity to share a true story of their lives and their school with their community.

Sadly, that is an opportunity that is vanishing almost daily in a truth-starved world. Journalism is not really a solid career path anymore. I was very lucky to come along when I did, but the writing lives of the current Chronicle crew will be very different.

However, if they read this, I hope they will remain true to the truth. Facts mattered when I was 12, and they still matter today. My work has always been telling true stories, a skill I first learned working under the legendary Jane Gilman. (And in another lesson for today’s kids, I got the gig because my mom was pals with Jane. Then, as now, connections matter.)

When I give talks to classrooms about life as an author, I always point to seeing my name, photo, and words in these pages as the start of a wonderful, enriching, challenging, and rewarding life in print. So, keep up the good work, young typists. And thanks again to the Larchmont Chronicle for getting me started.