Leonora Hornblow facts for kids

Leonora Hornblow (born Salmon; later Schinasi; June 3, 1920 – November 5, 2005) was an American writer. She wrote books for both adults and children. Leonora was also known for being a socialite, meaning she was a well-known person in society. She wrote two novels in the 1950s and worked for magazines. She also helped edit a collection of short stories. With her second husband, Arthur Hornblow Jr., she wrote many popular children's books from 1965 to 1974.

About Leonora Hornblow

Her Early Life

Leonora Salmon was born on June 3, 1920, in New York City. Her parents were Ruby and Sidney Salmon. When she was a baby, her mother gave her the nickname "Bubbles." This was because Leonora didn't sound like a baby's name to her mother. Later, Leonora's mother married a wealthy businessman named Leon Schinasi. Leonora became his stepdaughter. She grew up in New York City and started writing when she was young.

In 1939, Leonora married actor Wayne Morris. Their marriage lasted about 18 months. They had one son named Michael. Later, in 1945, she married film producer and writer Arthur Hornblow Jr.. Their wedding was at the home of publisher Bennett Cerf.

Her Writing Career

After her second marriage, Leonora began writing for magazines. In 1946, she started writing about fashion for Liberty magazine. Later, she wrote book reviews for the Los Angeles Daily News newspaper.

Books for Grown-Ups

Leonora wrote her first novel, Memory and Desire, in 1950. This book was about the film industry. Soon after, she joined the Authors Guild, which is a group for writers. In 1952, she had a small acting role in a movie called Thunder in the East. Her second novel, The Love Seekers, was published in 1957. She also worked with publisher Bennett Cerf to edit a collection of short stories. This collection was called Bennett Cerf’s Take Along Treasury.

Books for Kids

In 1961, Leonora wrote a children's book about the ancient Egyptian queen Cleopatra. This was the start of her writing for younger readers. She then worked with her husband, Arthur Hornblow Jr., on a series of popular children's books. These books explained interesting facts about animals.

Some of their famous children's books include:

• Birds Do the Strangest Things (1965)
• Fish Do the Strangest Things (1966)
• Insects Do the Strangest Things (1968)
• Reptiles Do the Strangest Things (1970)
• Prehistoric Monsters Did the Strangest Things (1974)

After her husband passed away in 1976, Leonora moved back to New York City. She ran a stationery shop there. She returned to writing fiction in 1989 with her last book, Animals Do the Strangest Things. Leonora was not able to write more books after 2003. This was because she lost her manuscript when she moved to North Carolina. She wanted to be closer to her son. Leonora Hornblow died at her home in Fearrington Village, North Carolina, on November 5, 2005, after a short illness.

Her Legacy

Leonora Hornblow's personal papers and details about her life are kept in the Margaret Herrick Library. This library is run by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. It helps people learn more about her and her husband's work.