Investing in the importance of words

“If a big person invests time in reading, kids learn reading is important, the child is important, words are important, stories are important.” – Gail Carson Levine

Born in New York City on this date in 1947, Levine is the author of the Newbery Award winning book, Ella Enchanted, and the wonderful semi-biographical novel Dave at Night, based loosely on her father’s “growing-up years” in an orphanage.

Although she grew up as an avid reader, she didn’t have writing on her radar until later in life, wanting to be an artist or actress.  She worked as a welfare administrator and didn’t try her hand at writing until her late 40s.  Ella was her first accepted book, but it took 9 years of doing manuscripts before she got that one accepted.         After it won the Newbery, it was made into a successful movie and gave Levine the financial independence to focus on more.  Now, her 20^th book, The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre, is just on the market.  Many of her other books are based on fairy tales, only with a modern twist.

“As a child, I loved fairy tales because the story, the what-comes-next, is paramount. As an adult, I'm fascinated by their logic and illogic,” Levine said.  As for why she didn’t get into writing sooner, she said (with tongue firmly in cheek), “Most of the authors I liked were dead, so it didn't seem like a real safe occupation.”

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