About Afton

My father was an English professor and liked the poetry of Robert Burns. My name comes from the Burns poem, “Sweet Afton” about a river in Scotland. My father loved the fact that my first name fit so well with my last name—Banks.

As teenager, I just wanted a “normal” name, a name that wouldn’t land me in the male dorm at band camp.

And then I got married and added a new last name–Rorvik, which means “Bay of Pipes” in Norwegian. I have completely muddled my father’s metaphor.

Now for the formal “stuff.”

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Part of the publishing industry since 1986, Afton Rorvik has worked with beginning as well as best-selling Christian authors. While employed at Victor Books (Wheaton, Illinois), Afton edited over forty nonfiction adult books. She also edited several picture books for children and several works of fiction for ages eight to twelve while serving as interim children’s book editor. When her children were born, Afton became a freelance editor.

In addition to her editing work, Afton writes for publication. Her profile pieces and feature stories have appeared in Discipleship Journal (2007), FACES, Guideposts, NABtoday (a bimonthly publication of the North American Baptist Conference), West Suburban Living, The Wheaton Leader and Wheaton Magazine (a quarterly publication for Wheaton College Alumni).

Afton earned a B.A. in English Literature from Wheaton College (1983) as well as a teaching certificate for grades six through twelve. She taught English at Aurora West High School for two years before entering publishing. Her students included those who struggled to read as well as those who read and understood Shakespeare.

When she is not editing, writing or volunteering, Afton likes to travel with her family, especially to Colorado and Norway.

Afton is a member of the Evangelical Press Association and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.