It's no coincidence that Jimmy Cannon, the main character in When The Whistle Blows, shares a name with Fran Cannon Slayton, author of the new novel for middle-graders. Slayton dug deep into her family history to pen her debut about train-loving Jimmy, his evolving relationship with his father, and his coming of age in a small railroading town.

Written in a series of vignettes, Slayton's book is a warm, sentimental tale of a bygone era – when the steam train was king – yet it touches on larger themes that transcend generations – family, friendship, finding one's own way.

In my July children's market column at Authorlink.com, Slayton shares how she conceived, researched, wrote, and, ultimately, sold the book to Philomel/Penguin, plus she gives loads of advice about using your family tree in your writing. Drop by her website to learn more about Fran and her books.