It's 'a kind of magic'

 

“Writing is literally transformative. When we read, we are changed. When we write, we are changed. It's neurological. To me, this is a kind of magic.” – Francesca Lia Block

 

Born in Los Angeles on Dec. 3, 1962 Block is the author of 31 books (both fiction and non-fiction) and a dozen collections of short stories and poems, many of which have been translated into a wide range of languages around the globe.  

 

Among her many writing awards are the Margaret A. Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award, the Spectrum Award and the Phoenix Award as well as citations from the American Library Association, the School Library Journal and Publisher’s Weekly.    She is best known for her Weetzie Bat Young Adult series – for which she’s also written a screenplay – and the novel Blood Roses.  Her most recent book is House of Hearts.

          

A frequent writing workshop instructor, Block has taught creative writing at the University of Redlands and Antioch University, and for UCLA Extension.  She also has served as writer-in-residence at Pasadena City College.

 

 “Read what you love,” she advises.  “(Then) write what you love.”