Where Did That Come From?

The first day of my 7th-grade English class, the teacher assigned us a short story to read. The next day, we had a quiz. The first question was, "Who is the author of the story?"

I didn't know. It had never occurred to me to think about who wrote the things that I read. I just sort of assumed that books and stories magically appeared on shelves for me to pick up. Like milk. I mean, who drinks milk and thinks about the cows who made it, right? You just buy it and dunk your Oreos in it.

That short story was "The Lottery," and the author was Shirley Jackson. Once I knew her name, I started thinking about her. What was she like? Why did she write "The Lottery" (which, if you haven't read it, is only the best short story ever)?

Later, I read a biography of Shirley Jackson and found out a lot more about this fascinating writer. Then I went back and re-read a lot of her work, looking for ways her life found its way into her books. And I've done it with other authors I love: John Steinbeck, Flannery O'Connor, Carson McCullers, just to name a few. Knowing something about the people who write the books that are important to you can make reading them a whole new experience.

Something else happens when you learn more about the authors of your favorite books—you see that they're real people. Just like you. Sure, some of them have unusual lives. But most of them are people who simply see the world in extraordinary ways and write about it. And that's what writing is, putting your story on paper and letting people know how you see the world.

Who are some of your favorite authors, and what can you find out about their lives? And, more important, what do you have to say about the world you live in?

Jenny Collins
Author of First Kisses 3: Puppy Love