As a boy, Sid Fleischman lived for magic. He visited a sideshow in 5th grade that changed his life. From that moment on, he was consumed with the world of magic. He published his first book, Between Cocktails, when he was 19. It was a book about magic tricks. Kids will learn how this was a turning point for Sid Fleischman; how this book made him think about writing. They will find out how his life as a magician, and his many other experiences, helped him write such popular books as the McBroom series and Newbery Award-winning book, The Whipping Boy.