Thursday 3 October 2019

OCTOBER'S AUTHOR by Sharon Tregenza

KAREN CUSHMAN





Karen Cushman was born October 4th, 1941, in Chicago Illinois. Things changed for her when she was ten and the family moved to Los Angeles in California. Cushman didn't like Los Angeles but she put the experience to good use later, in her writing.

As a child she wrote plays and poems and short stories but it didn't occur to her to become a professional writer until much later in her life.

She went to Stanford University in 1959 and graduated with degrees in Greek and English. She later earned master's degrees in human behaviour and museum studies.

Although she read and wrote prolifically through her childhood, she didn't begin writing professionally until she was almost 50.





Her first book, Catherine, Called Birdy published in 1994 won a Newbery Honor and in 1995 The Midwife's Apprentice won the Newbery Medal for Children's Literature.






Five facts about Karen Cushman:

1. She loves pet rats, carrot juice and fog.

2. She dislikes: hot weather, noisy music and mean people.

3. One summer she was the "girl in mens underwear" at a department store.

4. When she was growing up she wanted to be ballerina or a brain surgeon.

5. Her favourite kind of music is the Celtic harp.


Cushman now lives on Vashon Island, Washington with her husband, Philip.







Email: sharontregenza@gmail.com




2 comments:

Penny Dolan said...

I loved the immediate way she wrote Catherine Called Birdy. Added suchlife to a historical novel. Thanks for this months reminder, Sharon.

Anne Booth said...

I've never heard of her and now I really want to read her - thank you!