"THE PAST MOVES ME & WITH ME ALTHOUGH I REMOVE MYSELF FROM IT. IT'S LIGHT OFTEN SHINES ON THIS NIGHT TRAVELER & WHEN IT DOES I SCRIBBLE IT DOWN. WHATEVER PLEASURE IS IN IT I NEED PASS ON. THAT'S HAPPINESS." VIRGINIA HAMILTON WROTE OVER 35 CHILDREN BOOKS THE MAIN CHARACTERS WERE AFRICAN AMERICANS. IN 1974 SHE WON THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR HER NOVEL, "M.C. HIGGINS THE GREAT."