'Life itself is a writer's lover'

 “Life can't defeat a writer who is in love with writing, for life itself is a writer's lover until death.” – Edna Ferber

Born in Kalamazoo, MI on Aug. 15, 1885 Ferber was a novelist, short story writer and playwright, who won a four Pulitzer Prizes – for So Big, Show Boat, Cimarron and Giant, the latter three also made into award-winning movies. And Show Boat was adapted for the stage as a Broadway musical while Cimarron won the Academy Award for Best Picture. 

 

Ferber's novels generally featured strong female protagonists, along with a rich and diverse collection of supporting characters. She usually highlighted at least one strong secondary character who faced discrimination ethnically or for other reasons, demonstrating her belief that people are people and that the not-so-pretty people have the best character.

“I like to look at all sides of people and be open to any idea,” she said.  “A closed mind is a dying mind.”