Writing stories for young readers

A critic can make or break a restaurant — even if she’s 12 years old. That’s the plot of Oceanside native Tara Dairman’s book series, in which child critic Gladys Gatsby secretly reviews restaurants for a New York newspaper.

There are two books in the series so far — “All Four Stars” and “The Stars of Summer” — and a third will come out next summer.

Dairman, 35, got the idea for the books when she was working for a small magazine in New York. She would have freelance writers who she communicate with only through email and did not meet in person. If there was a child who was a good writer and certain questions were not asked, Dairman thought, she could be convinced to publish that child’s article.

“When I go the idea for writing about a young, undercover restaurant critic, I thought that would be the best idea I ever had,” she said. Dairman started writing her book in 2005. It took her six years to write, including the two years she spent backpacking around the world with her husband Andy Cahill.

“I didn’t have a chance to write on any sort of schedule while we were traveling,” she said. “We never spent more than two or three nights in the same place. I would find a couple of hours every few weeks to write.”

Dairman finished her first draft in a café in Tanzania, when husband wanted to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and she didn’t want to. It took him five days to climb the mountain and come back, and she spent that time finishing “All Four Stars.”

“He got to climb the highest mountain in Africa and I got to finish writing my book,” said Dairman. “So it was a good week for both of us.”

“All Four Stars” was published in 2014, and “The Stars of Summer” was published in May. Dairman celebrated her second book’s launch with a party at The Dance Loft in Long Beach, where her sister, Brooke, is co-director.

Dairman and Cahill live in Colorado, where they moved three years ago. She teaches writing to homeschooled children in the area and he works in finance.

“We’re usually planning our next trip to somewhere around the world,” she said. “We try to get out of the country once a year and travel somewhere we haven’t been before.” Since they are expecting their first baby in December, they are looking for a more child-friendly trip.

Dairman’s books are available at regular online retailers and Blue Door Books in Cedarhurst.