Katrina elizabeth kate dicamillo biography

DiCamillo moved to Minneapolis infollowing a close friend, and after several jobs was hired to work at The Bookman, a book warehouse and distributor, as a picker, eventually in the children's book section, a placement she was initially disappointed by. While working in the department, DiCamillo discovered The Watsons Go to Birmingham —a children's novel she greatly admired.

She began writing regularly while working at the warehouse, waking up before her shifts on weekdays to write. DiCamillo submitted her books to several publishers. She received in return rejection letters.

Katrina elizabeth kate dicamillo biography: Kate DiCamillo is an American author

She was also encouraged by the author Jane Resh Thomas. By the turn of the 21st century, despite her efforts, DiCamillo had published only several short stories aimed at adults. DiCamillo had published 25 books as of As ofalmost 37 million copies of her books were in print. Ina Candlewick Press representative called her books a "cornerstone" of the publisher's success.

DiCamillo's first book to be accepted for publication was Because of Winn-Dixiea story about a girl who finds a stray dog and takes it home. A McKnight Fellowship grant allowed her to focus more on writing. She conceived the book's plot during the winter of her first year living in Minnesota, when she was missing her Florida home and upset about her apartment's no-dog policy.

DiCamillo gave her draft to a Candlewick sales agent who was at a Christmas party held by The Bookman. The draft was initially given to an editor who left the company on maternity leave, and it was lost in a pile of other manuscripts. It was rediscovered when the employee's office was cleaned out. DiCamillo was offered a contract.

After a rewrite, the book was published in Flo Davis, the wife of a founder of the Winn-Dixie supermarket chain, sponsored DiCamillo to visit various schools in Florida and widen the book's reach. It was a quick commercial and critical success. Afterward, DiCamillo left her job to focus on writing full-time. Inshe told the Chicago Tribune that she forced herself to write two pages every day, which took her on average 30 minutes to an hour.

Inshe estimated that she spent 12—15 hours a week writing and 35 to 40 reading, mainly adult fiction.

Katrina elizabeth kate dicamillo biography: Katrina Elizabeth DiCamillo (born March

She often traveled to talk about her writing. Because of Winn-Dixie 's success marked the beginning of DiCamillo's writing career. Birth Year: Literary Period: Contemporary. Genres: Children's literature, Realistic Fiction, Fantasy. Share Cite. Her father stayed back because of work: he was an orthodontist. She suffered chronic pneumonia as a child.

Katrina elizabeth kate dicamillo biography: Katrina Elizabeth DiCamillo was

This was majorly the reason her family moved to Florida. Interesting Facts Kate DiCamillo dedicates all her time to writing. She has neither been married nor had any children. She has won the Newbury award on two occasions, making her one of the only six writers to have done so. Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved March 7, The New York Times. ISSN The Boston Globe.

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Archived from the original on June 24, Library of Congress.

Katrina elizabeth kate dicamillo biography: Katrina Elizabeth DiCamillo is an American

Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 2, Retrieved December 17, Retrieved October 29, USA Today. Publishers Weekly. The Horn Book Magazine. Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 14, American Libraries. MPR News. Catholic Library Association. Archived from the original on March 18, Archived PDF from the original on November 9, Puppets of Spelhorst - Kate DiCamillo.

Kate DiCamillo. Retrieved October 12, Google Docs. Retrieved National Book Foundation. Retrieved February 11, May 30, Archived from the original on June 12, Parents' Choice. Archived from the original on December 20, Retrieved October 11, The Quills Literacy Foundation. Archived from the original on September 28, Retrieved February 14, Archived from the original on July 20, Retrieved July 20, Retrieved January 27,