Idore Anschell, author of Monsieur’s Escape on the Space Needle, began her book 25 years ago as a taxi driver sitting under the Seattle landmark and dreaming. She had written a story in verse about a bus, “Bender Ben,” that rises in the air, and thought, Well then, shouldn’t a Space Needle fly in space?

In 2006, at the age of 71, she received an MFA in Writing for Children from Spalding University in Kentucky. Her major project was development of the fantasy. A stuffed toy rabbit tells the story. Other characters are a little boy, a Space Needle pilot who has narcolepsy, and two witches.

Also in 2006, Idore received the first Inspire Positive Aging Award from Seattle Senior Services. Her poems appear in poetry journals, in print as well as on line. She says she is thrilled that Bennett & Hastings has taken on her book.