Kate DiCamillo By: E. B.

Kate DiCamillo is the author of the award winning children's book, because of Winn-Dixie. She has also written the Tail of Despereaux, The Miraculous Tales of Edward Tulane, and Mercy Watson.

Where she lives? She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, raised in Clermont, Florida and currently lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota

She loves to eat but cannot cook! She is not married and has no kids but she is an aunt to 3 wonderful kids Luke, Roxanne, and Max

Childhood friend When she was little she had a poodle named Nanette. She loved to dress her up especially in a green tutu and then a disco dancer.

She was a very sick kid. When they moved to Florida she was suffered from chronic pneumonia. She used books to see what the world was like when she was always trapped inside.

Writing Writing has always been a dream of Kate's but she didn’t start till she was 29 She got a job at a book warehouse and she was surrounded by tons of children's books it wasn’t long until she fell in love with them.

Because of Winn-Dixie She wrote because of Winn-Dixie because she was homesick for Florida [she lived in Minneapolis at the time] she wanted a dog but the apartment she livee in didn’t allow them.

Rewards Kate says that the most rewarding part about being an author is getting letters from kids. She said one day a kid wrote and said, “I didn’t like books but after Winn- Dixie I love them!” that’s what makes it all worth while.

Honor Kate Dicamillo won the Newberry award for Because of Winn-Dixie It was a dream come true for her she said nobody was surprised as she was, “After the Newbery committee called me, I spent the whole days walking into walls.” “Literally," she says. "I was stunned. And very, very happy."

Luke Bailey One day a her best friends son asked her to write a story for him her is there conversation” 'Well,' I said, 'I don't normally write stories on command.' 'But this is a story that I know you would want to tell,' he said. 'It's about an unlikely hero. He has exceptionally large ears.' 'What happens to this hero?' I asked. 'I don't know,' he said. 'That's why I want you to write it down, so you can find out.” So the Tail of Desperaux was made.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane One year she got a toy rabbit for Christmas I brought him home, placed him on a chair in my living room, and promptly forgot about him. A few days later, I dreamed that the rabbit was face-down on the ocean floor - lost, and waiting to be found. So Edward Tulane became a book

Some people may think well what does an author do all day? Does she write a book a day sit home and think about her next chapter? No She said her goal is to write 2 pages a day 5 days a week she says "E. B. White said, 'All that I hope to say in books, all that I ever hope to say, is that I love the world,' " she says. "That's the way I feel too."

What she wrote her pride and joy

Inspiration These are Kate's inspiring words to writers to be everywhere “If you want to be a writer, write a little bit every day. Pay attention to the world around you. Stories are hiding, waiting everywhere. You just have to open your eyes and your heart.”