Avi
Avi
American author of young adult literature and winner of the Newbery Medal in 2003.
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionYoung Adult Author
Date of Birth23 December 1937
CityNew York City, NY
CountryUnited States of America
brother everybody fashions help ideas music musician question rock science shape sons takes turn understand uses vital
Everybody has ideas. The vital question is, what do you do with them? My rock musician sons shape their ideas into music. My sister takes her ideas and fashions them into poems. My brother uses his ideas to help him understand science. I take my ideas and turn them into stories.
good
In my books I try to tell a good story, not give messages.
birthday collection early few loved received taken
Every night, I was read to. Every Friday, we were taken to the library. I always received at least one book for my birthday. I have a few of them yet. Early on, I had my own collection of books. I loved to read. Still do.
elementary failed high poor science
In elementary school, I did well in science, but I was a poor writer. When I got to high school, I failed all my courses.
patience takes time took worked year
Writing takes a lot of patience. It usually takes me a year to write a book. One time, it took me 14 years to write a book, not that I worked on it every day.
Writing is my profession. Photography is my hobby.
written
It makes it harder to write if I watch a lot of television, because television is not like a written story.
answers assume believes understand work
Don't assume that because everyone believes a thing, that it is right or wrong. Reason things out for yourself. Work to get answers on your own. Understand why you believe things.
life people
A lot of people think inspiration means magic. But really, inspiration means to put life into something.
became five four writers
Writers don't write writing, they write reading. When I was a kid, I read four or five books a week. And that is how I became a writer.
again begin crucial gradually
To become a novelist, the most crucial thing one must do is read, read and read again - gradually you begin to think like a writer. Ideas are not found - they are shaped.
teachers writer
I think you become a writer when you stop writing for yourself or your teachers and start thinking about readers.
along certainly five knows minutes name older reasons twin york
I was born in New York City, along with a twin sister. I am five minutes older than Emily. It was Emily, for reasons no one knows - she certainly doesn't - who called me Avi. It stuck. It's the only name I use now.
life public state worked york
For some 25 years, I worked as a librarian, first at the New York Public Library, then at Trenton State College in New Jersey. My life has always been with, around, and for books.