Elizabeth Atkinson
Elizabeth Atkinson has been an editor, a children’s librarian, an English teacher, and a newspaper columnist. She lives in Newburyport, MA. Visit her at www.elizabethatkinson.com.
Interview
What was your favorite book when you were a child?
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume changed my world. However, the book that had the most influence on me as a very young child was Leo Lionni’s Frederick, the little mouse who made it his job to tell stories.
What’s your favorite line from a book?
“Don’t be afraid of death; be afraid of an unlived life. You don’t have to live forever, you just have to live.” ― Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting
Who are your top three favorite authors or illustrators?
3 top MG Authors: Natalie Babbitt, Kimberly Willis Holt, E.B. White
Why did you want to become an author or illustrator?
From a very early age, I figured out that a good story could comfort me, guide me, and empower me. Books offered a hand to hold, a friend to love. I couldn’t imagine a better way to the make the world a kinder place.
Do you have any advice for future authors or illustrators?
There is no right way to write! People are always surprised to hear I don’t write on a daily basis, however I do schedule chunks of time to write and always stick to my schedule. So find your way to write and do it.