Christopher Paul Curtis
Christopher Paul Curtis did not become a published author until he was in his 40's. Before his first novel was published, he spent much of his adult life working in an automobile factory. Work at the factory became so unbearable that Curtis began having semi-hallucinations at night of car doors and assembly lines moving through his bedroom.
Fortunately, Curtis' fate changed dramatically when his first two novels received some of the most prestigious awards in all of children's literature.
Watch this interview below or read the interview transcript. You can also read a short biography of Christopher Paul Curtis or see a selected list of his books.
Bio
Christopher Paul Curtis was born in Flint, Michigan in 1953. Growing up in an all-black neighborhood, the only white people he ever saw were the teachers at his school. From kindergarten through eighth grade, Curtis was a straight-A student who thought he wanted to become a doctor like his father. But once in high school, Curtis lost interest in academics.
After high school graduation, Curtis took a well-paying job at the local automobile factory. At first he bought a new car and enjoyed the perks of making high wages. But soon Curtis grew tired of the strenuous and monotonous work. While installing heavy car doors on the assembly line, he and his partner developed a system that enabled each of them to rest for 30 minutes out of every hour. During these breaks from the assembly line, Curtis began to write.
After 13 long years at the factory, Curtis finally decided to take a year off to write a novel. This first novel, The Watsons Go to Birmingham — 1963, won both a Newberry Honor and a Coretta Scott King Honor. Curtis' second novel, Bud, Not Buddy, received even higher praise. It won the Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Award. Curtis' overnight success as an author allowed him to leave manual labor behind and dedicate himself full-time to writing.
Today Christopher Paul Curtis lives with his wife and two children in Windsor, Canada. His most recent book, Elijah of Buxton, was published in August 2007.
