PLACE AND DATE OF BIRTH:
Los Angeles, California, 23rd May, 1898. Died 15th October 1989

FAVOURITE BOOK:
Among his own: Island of the Blue Dolphins and The Road to Damietta
Written by others: Moby Dick by Herman Melville

FAVOURITE SONG:
"I Just Called to Say I Love You" and he listened to classical music while he worked

MOST TREASURED POSSESSION:
Hans Christian Andersen Award and the Newbery Medal

Can you give your top three tips to becoming a successful author?

1. Read, read, read, read. Most successful authors read all the time. They read for background information for stories, they read to observe the way other writers handle words and plot and characterization, and they read for fun.

2. Pick an author whose work you like and read one of his or her books. Read it the first time for fun. Then read it again and, as you read, ask yourself questions. Why does the story start where it does? Why didn't it start earlier in the chain of events? Why didn't it start later? How does the writer make you feel that you know a character? How does the writer build suspense? How does the writer create a scene? Why does the author pick the events used to create the story line? Once you've answered these questions, try to write a story using the techniques of the author you've studied - BUT USE THOSE TECHNIQUES ON YOUR OWN PLOT. At first, you'll be imitatin...

Can you give your top three tips to becoming a successful author?

1. Read, read, read, read. Most successful authors read all the time. They read for background information for stories, they read to observe the way other writers handle words and plot and characterization, and they read for fun.

2. Pick an author whose work you like and read one of his or her books. Read it the first time for fun. Then read it again and, as you read, ask yourself questions. Why does the story start where it does? Why didn't it start earlier in the chain of events? Why didn't it start later? How does the writer make you feel that you know a character? How does the writer build suspense? How does the writer create a scene? Why does the author pick the events used to create the story line? Once you've answered these questions, try to write a story using the techniques of the author you've studied - BUT USE THOSE TECHNIQUES ON YOUR OWN PLOT. At first, you'll be imitating, but gradually you'll develop a style of your own.

3. Write EVERY DAY - even if you write for only half an hour. That helps keep the story moving. Once you get out of a manuscript (that is, you don't write for a few days), it's very difficult to get back into it.