Background
Laurie Anderson was born on October 23, 1961 in Potsdam, St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. She is a daughter of Frank A. Junior, a Methodist minister, and Joyce Halse (maiden name is Holcomb).
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1996
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1996
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2002
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2003
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2009
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2010
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2011
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2015
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2017
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2018
Laurie Anderson was born on October 23, 1961 in Potsdam, St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. She is a daughter of Frank A. Junior, a Methodist minister, and Joyce Halse (maiden name is Holcomb).
Laurie Anderson attended Fayetteville-Manlius High School, in Manlius, New York. In elementary school, in the second grade, she decided to become a writer after her teacher taught children how to write haiku. Laurie spent a lot of time reading different books (especially science fiction and fantasy) in her school library and experiencing peculiarities of various cultures.
When she was sixteen, during her senior year, she moved out of her parents' house to Denmark where she lived as an exchange student for thirteen months on a pig farm. After that, Anderson returned home and entered the Onondaga Community College. In 1981, she graduated from the college with the Associate of Arts degree. The same year, Laurie entered the Georgetown University where she received the Bachelor of Science in Literature & Linguistics degree in 1984.
Laurie Anderson worked at a clothing store after her sojourn in Denmark as an exchange student, but her earnings were minimal and she decided to enter college.
Anderson started her career as a freelance journalist at The Philadelphia Inquirer where she began to write children’s and young adult novels. She didn't receive rejection letters, but released her first novel for children, Ndito Runs in 1996. Later that year, she published her story Turkey Pox inspired by her daughter, Meredith, who broke out with chicken pox on Thanksgiving. In 1998, Anderson published No Time For Mother’s Day, featuring the same characters.
During her early career, Laurie wrote several non-fiction books: a children's one featuring Saudi Arabia and a book about parenting shy children with Dr. Ward Swallow (as a co-author).
In 1999, she published her best-known novel to date, Speak, which became a New York Times Bestseller translated into 16 languages.
In 2002, Penguin under the Viking imprint published her book Catalyst.
In 2005, Anderson published Prom, which became on the New York Times Best Seller list in early 2005.The book received three starred reviews, was nominated for several state awards, and received national recognition from the American Library Association (ALA) and the International Reading Association.
Fourth novel of Anderson, Twisted, was released in the spring of 2007.
In March 2009, appeared her novel Wintergirls which received five-star reviews and nominations for state awards.
Her most recent novel for young and adults, The Impossible Knife of Memory, was published in 2014.
As to historical novels, Laurie published her Fever 1793 in 2000 in Simon and Schuster publishing company, Thank You, Sarah! The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving in 2002, Chains in 2008, Forge in October 2010.
In 1996, Laurie Anderson's book Ndito Runs became “Pick of the Lists” in American Booksellers Association. The same year, Turkey Pox was on recommended reading lists of Kansas State Librarians by Nevada Department of Education, Top of Texas Literature Review Center.
Anderson's novel Speak was adapted into film in 2004, starring Kristen Stewart as Melinda Sordino. The novel became a finalist of the National Book Award.
Her book Catalyst became a Barnes & Noble Best Teen Book of 2002 and an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults.
Laurie's novel Wintergirls was named an ALA Quick Pick for Young Adults, was a Junior Library Guild Selection, and debuted on the New York Times Best Seller list. The book has been published in over 15 different countries.
Fever 1793 received two starred reviews, state and national awards and became a Publishers Weekly Bestseller.
The book Thank You, Sarah! The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving received two starred reviews, and was named in the ALA Amelia Bloomer List and the Junior Library Guild Selection.
The book Forge received three starred reviews and became a Junior Library Guild Selection, a Kirkus Best Book for Teens: Historical Novels 2010, The Horn Book Fanfare List Best Book of 2010, and one of the Young Adult Library Services Association's (YALSA) 2011 Best Books for Young Adults.
Laurie Anderson is a Quaker.
Quotations:
"Despite evidence to the contrary, I believe the world has an abundance of goodness. Not all children get to see this, sadly. I would like to think my books serve up some goodness—with hot fudge, whipped cream, and a cherry on top."
“Becoming a children’s author has been an incredible privilege. The thought that some kid is reading a book of mine in the library makes me feel like I can fly. I have the coolest job in the world.”
"Performance art is about joy, about making something that's so full of kind of a wild joy that you really can't put into words."
"I so much appreciate it when anybody tries to make something and tries to be an artist - I'm happy to see the work."
I've never really had a hobby, unless you count art, which the IRS once told me I had to declare as a hobby since I hadn't made money with it."
"I really like books that you can kind of hear as much as think about, that are so graphic and visual."
"When love is gone, there's always justice. And when justice is gone, there's always force. And when force is gone, there's always Mom. Hi, Mom!"
Laurie Anderson is founding member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, nonprofit organization that helps to exchange knowledge between writers, illustrators, editors, publishers, agents, librarians, educators, booksellers and other people involved literature for young people, which appeared in 1994.
Laurie Anderson married Gregory H. Anderson, chief executive officer of Anderson Financial Systems, on June 19, 1983. They have two daughters - Stephanie and Meredith.
