“In spite of illness, in spite even of the archenemy sorrow, one can remain alive long past the usual date of disintegration if one is unafraid of change, insatiable in intellectual curiosity, interested in big things, and happy in small ways.” Edith Wharton Author Edith Wharton was born Edith Newbold Jones on January 24th, 1862,… Read More January 24th – Edith Wharton
“My six words of advice to writers are: ‘Read, read, read, write, write, write.’” Ernest Gaines Ernest Gaines, the author of the American classics Of Love and Dust, A Gathering of Old Men and The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, was born on January 15th, 1933, on a plantation in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana. Over his career, he wrote eight books,… Read More January 15th – Ernest Gaines
“When I decided to write a novel, I had two full time jobs and three children under the age of six, so I don’t want anyone telling me they don’t have time to write a book….Basically, the only bottom line is you just keep writing.” Diana Gabaldon American author Diana Gabaldon (pronounced GAB-uhl-dohn – rhymes… Read More January 11th – Diana Gabaldon
We have all a better guide in ourselves, if we would attend to it, than any other person can be. Jane Austen, Mansfield Park Jane Austen was born on December 16th, 1775, in Stevenson, a small rural village in England. There is a plethora of biographical information about Jane Austen, so I’ll keep it brief… Read More December 16th – Jane Austen
“The world was hers for the reading.” Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Betty Smith, author of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, was born on December 15, 1896, in Brooklyn, New York. Her given name was Elisabeth Lillian Wehner. Her father, a first-generation American with German roots, was a waiter. She had a warm relationship… Read More December 15th – Betty Smith
“All the time that I am making beds and doing dishes and driving to town for dancing shoes, I am telling myself stories.” Shirley Jackson Shirley Jackson was born on December 14th, 1916, in San Francisco, California. Her family moved from California to Rochester, New York, during her senior year of high school. Jackson later… Read More December 14th – Shirley Jackson
“In the great forest a little elephant is born. His name is Babar. His mother loves him very much. She rocks him to sleep with her trunk while singing softly to him.” Jean dr Brunhoff French writer and illustrator Jean de Brunhoff was born on December 9th, 1899, in Paris, France. His father, Maurice de… Read More December 9th – Jean dr Brunhoff
“Nothing mattered … but writing books, and living the kind of life that made it possible to write them.” Willa Cather Willa Cather was born Wilella Sibert Cather on December 7th, 1873, in Gore, Virginia. She was the eldest of seven children, and when she was nine, the family moved from Virginia to Nebraska in… Read More December 7th – Willa Cather
“All artist are of necessity in some measure contemplatives.” -Evelyn Underhill Evelyn Underhill was born on December 6th, 1875, in Wolverhampton, England. Her father was a barrister and writer, and her mother the daughter of the justice of the peace. She was primarily educated at home, except for three years at a private school. She… Read More December 6th – Evelyn Underhill
“if one found some truths worth telling they should be told to the young in terms that were understandable to them.” Monro Leaf Wilbur Munro Leaf was born on December 4th, 1905, in Hamilton, Maryland. He grew up in Washington, D.C., and in 1927 graduated from the University of Maryland. In 1931 Leaf received his… Read More December 4th – Monro Leaf
Daily Inspirations for Writers and Readers 