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"I love being a writer because I want to leave something here on earth to make it better, prettier, stronger"

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Born in Virginia on June 6, 1954

Parents divorced when she was only 4 years old

Moved to the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia to live with her grandparents.

Lived in a town without electricity or running water

Had few libraries or bookstores which influenced her lack of reading

Her childhood was instead filled with playing outdoors and imaginary games

Her father died when she was 13

Attended Morris Harvey College for her B. A. degree in 1975

Earned a M. A. degree in English from Marshall College in 1976

Became a librarian where she found interest in the many books surrounding her

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Prolific children’s author with over 100 books

Also a poet, illustrator, and novelist

First introduced to children’s and young adult literature, which inspired her want to begin writing, after she had been moved to the children's section in the library where she worked

Her writing first began secretly in the confines of her home.

Won many awards for her books including the Newbery Medal, the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award and the Caldecott Medal

No set pattern for writing-writes whenever an idea for a book or poem comes to her

Claims her talent as something given rather than something learned because of how sporadically ideas come

Her favorite writing is personal, revealing writing.

Writes to bring experiences to life and provide comfort to the reader

Not positive she wants to write her whole life because that is a long time- she is still actively writing in 2019

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Writes with her senses to liven the storyline

Ex.- When I was Young in the Mountains and Soda Jerk exemplified descriptions of smell, sight, taste, touch, hearing that help readers to feel like they are there with the girl on the mountain.

Inspirations for writing came from her childhood experiences, we see her writing a lot about family that played a large role in her life

Ex.- use of her grandparents and family members which is seen in The Relatives Came, Soda Jerk, and When I was Young in the Mountains.

Loved nature and animals growing up

Ex.- Included in many of her books such as All I See, The Bird House, and Moonlight

Books reflect a time of loneliness and uncertainty that changes with just one companion- feelings she experienced in her childhood, while her mother completed nursing school and after the loss of her father

Es.- In The Bird House where the girl find companionship with the older woman and in All I See when the boy starts off spying on the painter and in the end becomes friends with him

The Bird House, All I See, and Moonlight were written in third person.

Soda Jerk, The Relatives Came, and When I was Young in the Mountains were written in first person.

The stories I read, other than Moonlight, were set in rural areas, most of which being the Appalachian Mountains where she grew up.

She writes a mixture of fiction and non-fiction books.

Books presented ended on a hopeful, happy note that plays an integral part in conveying the message of your past not defining your future

Tries to use a different illustrator for almost every book- seems different because I have seen many authors who keep the same illustrator throughout most if not all of their books.