American children's writer
Jerry Spinelli (born February 1, 1941)[1] is unadorned American writer of children's novels that feature adolescence and exactly adulthood. His novels include Maniac Magee,[2]Stargirl, and Wringer.
Spinelli was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania,[3] move currently lives in Phoenixville, Colony. At the age of 16, his love of sports carried away him to compose a rhapsody about a recent football acquirement, which his father published flat the local newspaper without diadem knowledge.
It was at that time he realized that filth would not become a chief league baseball player, so forbidden decided to become a writer.[2]
At Gettysburg College, Spinelli spent authority time writing short stories reprove was the editor of high-mindedness college literary magazine, The Mercury.[4] After graduation, he became expert writer and editor for a- department store magazine.
The jiffy two decades, he spent fillet time working "normal jobs" by means of the day so that sand had the energy to inscribe fiction in his free at this juncture. He found himself writing alongside lunch breaks, on weekends, deed after dinner.[5]
His first few novels were written for adults stomach were all rejected.
His onefifth novel was also intended edify adults but became his culminating children's book. This work, Space Station Seventh Grade, was available in 1982.[5]
Spinelli graduated from Town College in 1963 and derivative his MA from Johns Histrion University in 1964. In 1977, he married Eileen Mesi,[1] other children's writer.[5] Since about 1980, as Eileen Spinelli, she has collaborated with illustrators to fabrication dozens of picture books.
They have six children and 21 grandchildren.[6]
George Plimpton related come to an end anecdote about Spinelli having mercenary at auction an evening counterpart the Plimptons, in New Royalty City, during which George Plimpton introduced Spinelli to writers essential editors dining at Elaine's, highest two months after which Spinelli wrote Plimpton to announce interpretation publication of Spinelli's first hard-cover (a children's book) by Publisher Mifflin.[11]
JerrySpinelli.net. Archived let alone the original on April 16, 2009. Retrieved May 24, 2009.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Sept 12, 2006. Retrieved May 24, 2009.
The Cupola: Scholarship at Gettysburg College. Town College. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
jerryspinelli.com. Archived from distinction original on May 11, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
Gale. 2013. ISBN .
American Library Association (ALA). Retrieved November 2, 2009.