'Mastering the Art of Teaching Timed Writing: The Case of the Backyard Mystery Portfolio' is the first volume of the 'Mastering the Art of Literacy Series'. It is in the format of an informal interest inventory, . It incorporates the use of writing portfolios, writers workshop, and preparation for the timed writing assessments across the grades. Dr. DeMakas is an outside researcher of a National Writing Project site and is available for in service training. She is an associate professor at Indiana University Northwest and teaches literacy courses in the School of Education. For more information contact: megdemakas@reflectiveteachinginc.com.