The series was created by Julie Campbell Tatham, an author who owned a small literary agency in New York City in the 1940s. Responding to an appeal from Western Publishing for manuscripts of fast-moving, well-written mystery and adventure books for children, Ms. Tatham submitted a proposal for two series she would write using her maiden name, and two that would be written by authors she represented. The first series featured Ginny Gordon and included a total of five books. She wrote six in the Trixie Belden series between 1948 and 1956. She also contributed to the Cherry Ames and Vicki Barr series of books targeted at young girls.

After six books, Ms. Tatham decided to stop writing Trixie Belden. However, because of its popularity, Western Publishing wanted to continue the series. While the publisher owned the rights to the books, Ms. Tatham negotiated an arrangement to be paid royalties for the next six books in the series. She also had outlines for additional books that may have been used. Imagine her surprise when the series continued for another thirty years and 39 books.

I put my heart and soul into those books. I didn't write any less better than I did with other books. I knew those books were going to sell for a long time and nothing was going to stop them. When I was writing those books, I made sure there was nothing dated in them and that's why they're as popular today as they were thirty years ago...In the beginning people were apt to make fun of them. But gradually they became properly appreciated. Now when I go to schools to give talks on "How to Become a Successful Writer", the Trixie Belden books are everywhere.

Moving On