Interweaving pieces of lives

“One curious thing about growing up is that you don't only move forward in time; you move backwards as well, as pieces of your parents' and grandparents' lives come to you.” – Philip Pullman

Born on this date in 1946, Pullman is the author of several best-selling books, most notably the fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials and the fictionalized biography of Jesus, The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ.  In 2008, The Times of London named Pullman one of the "50 greatest British writers since 1945."

A native of Norwich, England, Pullman was a teacher when his first published work, The Haunted Storm, was published in 1972.  It was an instant hit, winning the New English Library's Young Writer's Award.  For the next 20 years, Pullman split his time between writing and teaching and even though he has been writing full time since 1996, he continues to do some teaching and considerable lecturing.  

                  In 2005 Pullman won the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award from the Swedish Arts Council, recognizing his career contribution to "children's and young adult literature in the broadest sense.”  He also is a two-time finalist for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal, given biennially to the best writer of fiction for children and young adults.

His advice to new writers is simple.  Write 3 pages a day.   “If you can't think of what to write, tough luck; write anyway. If you can think of lots more when you've finished three pages, don't write it; it'll be that much easier to get going next day.”

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