Betsy
Byars has written over fifty books in her forty years as a writer. Her
writing began with her articles in the Saturday Evening Post, Look, and other
magazines. She began writing books for children as her children were
growing up and based her stories on original ideas or on incidents that involved
her friends or family. Betsy Byars's first children's book (Clementine)
was published in 1962, after it had been rejected nine times. Since then,
Byars has won the Newbery Award (for Summer of the Swans, 1971) and the National
Book Award and has received glowing reviews for her many novels and picture
books. Kirkus Reviews has called Byars "a master of perfectly chosen incident
and phrase." And The New York Times Book Review noted, "Byars has the uncanny
ability to know the secret lives, the outward postures, and the exact words
her characters would surely use." Today, Byars's books continue to be favorites
with children both in the U.S. and abroad, and they appear on numerous state
reading lists.
Betsy Byars' inspiration for writing: "I write realistic fiction so
most of my inspiration comes from things that really happen - things I read
in the newspaper, or things that have happened to me, my family, and my pets."
Author Fun Facts
Born: August 7, 1928.
Education: Queens College,
North Carolina
Pets: dog named Ace and a
cat named Bibbs
Favorite....
Hobbies: flying, reading,
word puzzles
Food: popcorn
Color: yellow
Book: Daddy Long Legs
Check out these sites for more info on Betsy Byars and her books! 
