Introduction
Alison McGhee (born July 8, 1960) is an American author, who has published several picture books, books for children, and adult novels. She is a New York Times bestselling author, the winner of numerous awards.
Education
Holland Patent High School, New York
Middlebury College, Vermont
Career
Alison McGhee's first novel, Rainlight, follows the characters left behind after the sudden and accidental death of Starr Williams. It received positive reviews and won both the Great Lakes College Association National Fiction Award and the Minnesota Book Award in 1999. McGhee's sophomore effort, Shadow Baby, is witnessed through the eyes of a young girl who befriends an old man as part of a school project. It was a Pulitzer Prize nominee. McGhee continued her adult themes with 'Was It Beautiful?.
She then began writing children's pictures. Countdown to Kindergarten and Mrs. Watson Wants Your Teeth, both share the same main character who begins the first story as she enters kindergarten and is in first grade by the second book. Turning her hand to young adult novels, McGhee introduced Snap and All Rivers Flow to the Sea.
In Only a Witch Can Fly McGhee focuses on poetry. In this story-poem, created in sestina form, a little girl dreams about flying on her broom.
In addition to being an award-winning author, McGhee is a professor of creative writing at Metropolitan State University in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Personal life
McGhee is single with three grown children.
Awards
2011 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award with co-author Kate DiCamillo and illustrator Tony Fucile (Bink and Gollie)
1999 Minnesota Book Award (Rainlight) 2000 Minnesota Book Award (Shadow Baby) 2003 Minnesota Book Award (Countdown to Kindergarten) 2008 Minnesota Book Award (All Rivers Flow to the Sea)
2017 Christopher Medal (Firefly Hollow)
The Great Lakes College Association National Fiction Award