How Perfect Balance Gymnastics Books Began . . .
It probably began somewhere around 1988 when my obsession for gymnastics took off.
Here I am competing Class IV Bars (similar to today's Level 3). Enjoy my dad's commentary!
Here I am competing Class IV Bars (similar to today's Level 3). Enjoy my dad's commentary!
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I was 11 years old and I loved gymnastics. But I had a hard time reading and finding books I liked. I enjoyed The Babysitter's Club, but I was frustrated that I could not find fiction books about gymnastics.
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My mom, who was a teacher, worried that I didn't read enough and that I would never find a love for books and reading. She tried finding me books about gymnastics, but I was personally offended when the terminology was incorrect and I wouldn't read them. Here I am competing Level 6 floor at age 13.
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In 6th and 7th grade my school participated in a writing fair (like a science fair only for books) and both years the books I created got awards. It got me thinking about books and writing. Maybe this was something I was good at? Pictured: My writing fair books. One is about my cat, Sassy, and the other one is about a family trip to Japan.
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By high school I forgot about writing and books. Gymnastics had ALL of my attention (20+ hours a week of my attention). My mother continued to worry about my lack of reading. Here I am competing Level 8 at age 16 on beam and floor.
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Sometime at the end of high school I began picking up books for fun. I found two books that caught my interest and all of a sudden I loved reading! It got me thinking, maybe I didn't read growing up because I hadn't found the right books? The books that turned me into an avid life long reader were Rain of Gold, by Victor Villasenor and Gone with the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell.
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By my sophomore year in college I was taking literature classes and loving it. My mom worried all those years for nothing, I couldn't read enough! In the video below I am finally the person I was meant to be, a gymnast AND a reader. The video is my floor routine at Utah State during my junior year.
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Fast forward several years. I had retired from gymnastics and been working in Human Resources for many years. I had two children and I loved taking them to the library. I was determined to help them connect with books sooner than I did. I feel like I missed out on so many wonderful children's books during my years as a non-reader. I wanted more for my children.
One day, at the library, I wandered over to the children's chapter book section to see if there were any fun fiction books about gymnastics. There was only one and the terminology was all wrong. I thought for sure after 25 years someone would have written something authentic. I wondered, does that mean young gymnasts of today aren't reading either? Are they missing out on books like I did because they just want to read about gymnastics?
Furthermore, I noticed that many of the chapter books I was reading out loud to my son depicted girls being mean to each other. Neither of us understood this and my son kept asking me if girls were really that mean. I don't think so . . . when I was growing up my teammates and I encouraged each other and cheered for each other's success. I felt children's books had room for a different type of series.
I set out to write fiction gymnastics books that are authentic, technically correct, relatable, and with positive female interactions. I wanted to get gymnasts reading and show strong girls working together. My stories embrace all the life lessons that gymnastics teaches and I hope that gymnasts and non-gymnasts can learn, grow, and read!
Thank you for taking the time to get to know me and my journey.
Melisa Torres
Author of the Perfect Balance Gymnastics Series
One day, at the library, I wandered over to the children's chapter book section to see if there were any fun fiction books about gymnastics. There was only one and the terminology was all wrong. I thought for sure after 25 years someone would have written something authentic. I wondered, does that mean young gymnasts of today aren't reading either? Are they missing out on books like I did because they just want to read about gymnastics?
Furthermore, I noticed that many of the chapter books I was reading out loud to my son depicted girls being mean to each other. Neither of us understood this and my son kept asking me if girls were really that mean. I don't think so . . . when I was growing up my teammates and I encouraged each other and cheered for each other's success. I felt children's books had room for a different type of series.
I set out to write fiction gymnastics books that are authentic, technically correct, relatable, and with positive female interactions. I wanted to get gymnasts reading and show strong girls working together. My stories embrace all the life lessons that gymnastics teaches and I hope that gymnasts and non-gymnasts can learn, grow, and read!
Thank you for taking the time to get to know me and my journey.
Melisa Torres
Author of the Perfect Balance Gymnastics Series
My beam dismount senior year of high school
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Waiting for my floor music to begin senior year in college. In this picture I am competing for Utah State University at the University of Utah in front of 12,000 Ute fans!
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Melisa grew up in San Jose, California where she trained at Almaden Valley Gymnastics Club. Melisa competed in the Junior Olympic program of USA Gymnastics for ten years. She then went on to compete for Utah State University. At Utah State Melisa was part of a record breaking team who won Big West Championships in 1996 and 1998. Melisa was also a two time Academic All-American and team captain.
Melisa stays involved in gymnastics by occasionally choreographing floor routines and following elite and college gymnastics. Melisa also enjoys weight lifting and west coast swing dancing.
Melisa lives in Utah and is a single mother to two active boys. Their favorite things to do together are skiing, swimming, going to the library, and dancing in the kitchen.
Melisa stays involved in gymnastics by occasionally choreographing floor routines and following elite and college gymnastics. Melisa also enjoys weight lifting and west coast swing dancing.
Melisa lives in Utah and is a single mother to two active boys. Their favorite things to do together are skiing, swimming, going to the library, and dancing in the kitchen.