“Writing at home and then going out into the world to talk about why books matter to me feeds the writing. It's a good mix. It provides balance.”

American author of children’s fiction

Kate DiCamillo is an American author of children’s fiction. She has written more than 25 novels, including Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tiger Rising, The Tale of Despereaux, and Flora & Ulysses. Her books have sold about 37 million copies. Four have been made into films, and two have been adapted for the stage as musicals. The Tale of Despereaux and Flora & Ulysses each won the Newbery Medal, making her one of the few authors to receive that honor twice.