This
meeting feted the winners of our 2001 Young Writers Contest. Naturally,
we chose a speaker to inspire them to continue writing.
Katherine Sturtevant - Making History Come To Life
Author of At the Sign of the Star, a work of historical fiction for children, will speak about "Booklovers in Fact and Fiction . . . How coming from a book loving family led me write about a bookseller's daughter."
A passion for reading historical novels, nurtured by a gifted history teacher, inspired Katherine Sturtevant to focus on writing historical fiction. She grew to love England through English literature. After a trip to London, the interests converged, launching her writing career. First writing for adults, with nonfiction, Our Sister’s London: Feminist Walking Tours, and fiction, A Mistress Moderately Fair, she began to write for children with At the Sign of the Star, (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 10 - 2000). She relished the research required for this story set in the world of seventeenth century London bookselling. This book was one of five finalists for the children's literature award given by the Bay Area Book Reviewers Association (BABRA) recently, and will be awarded a silver medal for young adult literature by the Commonwealth Club in July.
Sturtevant started writing in the second grade and she encourages other young writers. “Believe in yourself. Enjoy your writing and share it with others who enjoy it.” But she cautions not to make comparisons to writers you know. “Every writer is different. Every writer has a unique path”
Katherine Sturtevant studied creative writing at San Francisco State University, where she received her B.A. in 1976 and her M.A. in 1993. Her articles and reviews have been published in The San Francisco Chronicle, The San Jose Mercury-News, The Willamette Week, and Calyx. She lives in Berkeley with her husband, her twin sons, and two Maine Coon cats.
Take a walk into the past with Katherine Sturtevant as she unlocks the mysteries of writing and researching historical fiction. AND Applaud the success of our nine young contest winners as they receive their rewards.
Read Katherine Sturtevant's bio (press your Back button to return)
Internet links
An interview by Audrey Marie Danielson (Kids Reads)
Read an excerpt from At the Sign of the Star
More reviews at these bookseller sites
Her first two books are out of print, but may be found by clicking
A Mistress Moderately Fair Alyson Publications - 1988
Our
Sisters' London : Feminist Walking Tours Chicago
Review Press - 1990 (There's a review
here)
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