American Girl author Valerie Tripp told youngsters gathered to meet her that one of her favorite things about writing American Girl books is the opportunity it gives her to immerse herself in a new character and a new time period with each girl she writes about.

"All of my characters are so different, but I love them all equally.  I love Felicity because she is so brave–much braver than I am. Samantha is so noble, and Molly is very mischievous," Tripp said.

She encouraged the young audience to have "eyes wide open, sit up straight, and be observant," so they, too, could use their memories in their own stories someday.

Tripp admitted that one character in particular was hard for her to develop. "The character I initially found to be the most challenging was Josephine because she is from a different culture. Eventually I found common ground—she has five sisters like I do, and we share our Catholic religion," she said.

About 90 girls arrived at 4 p.m. to the Katonah Village Library Friday to hear Tripp, a Mt. Kisco native and author of 33 books in the popular American Girl series.  The audience ranged in age from toddlers to early teens. Nearly every girl brought an American Girl doll to the event.

Girls of today aren't so different from the past, the young fans discovered. Tripp writes characters who are brave, curious and lovers of adventure—all qualities Johanna Schechter, 9, of Katonah can relate too.

"My favorite American girl is Kaya. She is a Native American who is always doing lots of really cool things and having lots of adventures," Schechter said.

Similarly, Camille Carey, 7, of South Salem said her favorite American Girl Doll is Kit. "Kit is kind, just like me," she said.

Although Tripp would not disclose what she is currently working on for the American Girl series, she let us in on some exciting news—she has started working on series for boys.

 "I think boys have been neglected in the historical fiction category, and I think there are a lot of good adventerous stories that can be created," Tripp said, who was accompanied for the afternoon by her husband and a childhood friend—her former chemistry partner at Fox Lane High School.

If you missed Tripp's appearance in Katonah, you can catch her in Mt. Kisco today. The Mt. Kisco Library Foundation is sponsoring a reception at noon with Tripp in conjunction with the American Girl Quilt Display which will be on display through the end of February.

According to the library, the exhibit features quilts representing the historical time periods of the American Girl Dolls. At 1 p.m. the Step Up Dance Company will be performing a medley of dances inspired by the characters and times of the American Girl collection.

Tripp will speak at 1:30 p.m. about her life as a writer, followed by a Q & A session and book signing.