Karen Cushman

Karen Cushman

Newbery award-winning children’s book author

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Karen Cushman

Will Sparrow’s Road

Remembering Katherine Kellgren

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Sad news from Shelf Awareness today: 

Obituary Note: Katherine Kellgren

Katherine Kellgren

“Katherine Kellgren, who narrated more than 200 audio books and was winner of multiple Audie Awards, died on January 10 after a long battle with cancer. Robin Whitten, founder of Audiofile Magazine, called Kellgren ‘a brilliant narrator… Her wonderful performances are known and loved by listeners. Her work was celebrated with every audio book award—Golden Voice, Earphones, Audie Awards, Odyssey, Voice of Choice, and more. Her kindness and indomitable spirit were loved and cherished by her colleagues and friends. We will miss her greatly. However, Katy leaves us with the enduring treasure of her audio books.’ In lieu of flowers, please donate to Hispanic Federation to help the people of Puerto Rico.”

Katie Kellgren narrated my books Grayling’s Song, Will Sparrow’s Road, and Alchemy and Meggy Swann, for which she won numerous awards. We had many phone calls as we worked together on the books, and Katie was always delightful, warm, funny, and brilliant at inventing voices and accents that made me laugh out loud right there on the telephone. The book world will be a sadder place without her.

Character inspiration

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The Marvelous Hairy GirlsWill Sparrow's RoadIn Will Sparrow’s Road, I found inspiration for the character of Grace Wyse while reading this book, The Marvelous Hairy Girls: The Gonzales Sisters and Their Worlds. Read more about the book at Yale University Press. Learn about the author, Merry Wiesner-Hanks, and her research. You might enjoy reading it, too.

In California

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I am on a book tour for Will Sparrow’s Road in Los Angeles. eating my way through town. Yesterday I had a three hour lunch with the delightful Lin Oliver of SCBWI. We were so busy talking that I never got around to taking a photo. And last night Sharon Hearne of the amazing Children’s Book World organized a dinner for me and fourteen teachers, school librarians, and a few other equally interesting folk. We talked books, students, teaching, and the future. I am always awed by the knowledge, dedication, and passion these people bring to their jobs. And I learn so much. Now I am off to speak to 285 7th-graders in Rancho Cucamonga. Really. Stay tuned.

Four Los Angeles photos

Thank you, PW

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Will Sparrow's RoadWill Sparrow’s Road is out today, and Publisher’s Weekly has given it a starred review plus named it one of the Best Books of 2012. I suggest you get a copy and see for yourself.

If you are lucky enough to live on Vashon Island, come join me at Vashon Bookshop, Friday, November 9, at 6 PM. There will be snacks.

It’s Wordstock!

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Wordstock FestivalAll you Pacific Northwesterners out there (you know who you are)—come join me at the Wordstock Festival (now the Portland Literary Festival) in Portland. I’ll be speaking at two events on Saturday afternoon, October 13. Both times I have the pleasure of sharing the stage with Katherine Schlick Noe, the author of the remarkable Something to Hold, winner of the 2012 Washington State Book Award. Come and ask us lots of questions. No rotten tomatoes, please.

On the road with Will Sparrow

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Alchemy and Meggy Swann, Will Sparrow's RoadKaty Kellgren, who was so magnificent as the narrator of the award-winning audio book of Meggy Swann, has agreed to work her magic on an audio book for Will Sparrow’s Road. Thank you to Katy, and to May Wuthrich and Orli Moscowitz of Random House Listening Library. How did I get so lucky? Look for an excerpt on this website in November.