Kate DiCamillo

By the turn of the 21st century, despite her efforts, DiCamillo had only several short stories aimed at adults that had been published in magazines.

While working in the department, DiCamillo discovered The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963, a children's novel she greatly admired.

She began writing regularly while working in the book warehouse, waking up before her shifts on weekdays to write.

After four years in Minnesota, DiCamillo met the author Louise Erdrich, who offered her encouragement.

DiCamillo submitted her books to several publishers.

She received in return 473 rejection letters.

She was also encouraged by the author Jane Resh Thomas.

Katrina Elizabeth DiCamillo (born March 25, 1964) is an American children's fiction author.

She has published over 25 novels, including Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tiger Rising, The Tale of Despereaux, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, The Magician's Elephant, the Mercy Watson series, and Flora & Ulysses.

Her books have sold around 37 million copies.

Four have been developed into films and two have been adapted into musical settings.

Her works have won various awards; The Tale of Despereaux and Flora & Ulysses won the Newbery Medal, making DiCamillo one of six authors to have won two Newbery Medals.

Born in Philadelphia, DiCamillo moved to Clermont, Florida, as a child, where she grew up.

Katrina Elizabeth DiCamillo was born on March 25, 1964, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Betty Lee DiCamillo (Gouff), a teacher, and Adolph Louis DiCamillo, an orthodontist.

DiCamillo is the sister of Curt DiCamillo, an architectural historian.

She had chronic pneumonia as a child and was often hospitalized.

In hopes of helping her sickness, the family moved to the warmer climate of Clermont, Florida, when Kate was five.

Her father remained in Philadelphia with his business, but visited on occasion.

Although he originally planned to move with the family after selling his practice, this never happened.

DiCamillo was an avid reader as a child and often visited the local library.

She later credited her mother for sparking her love for books.

DiCamillo also often turned to reading when she was particularly sick with pneumonia and unable to do much else.

She wanted to be a veterinarian until she was around ten.

She was educated at public schools in the area beginning with Clermont Elementary, before entering Rollins College.

DiCamillo left Rollins and worked for a time at Walt Disney World before briefly attending the University of Central Florida.

She eventually entered the University of Florida, Gainesville, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in English in 1987.

DiCamillo then worked various entry-level jobs in Clermont, including at Circus World, Walt Disney World, a campground and in a greenhouse.

She said of her life during this time that she thought she was a talented writer and expected it to be quickly recognized so she "sat around for the next seven or eight years".

She earned an English degree from the University of Florida, Gainesville, and spent several years working entry-level jobs in Clermont before moving to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1994.

In Minnesota, DiCamillo worked in a book warehouse and attempted to get a book published.

Her first book to be accepted for publication was Because of Winn-Dixie, which was critically and commercially successful.

DiCamillo then left her job to become a full-time author.

DiCamillo moved to Minneapolis in 1994, following a close friend, and after several jobs was hired to work in The Bookman, a book warehouse and distributor, as a picker, eventually in the children's book section, a placement that she was initially disappointed over.

The success of her books was described in 2006 by a Candlewick Press representative as a "cornerstone" of the publisher's success.

From 2014 to 2015 DiCamillo was the American National Ambassador for Young People's Literature.

She lives in Minneapolis and continues to write.

Her next book, Orris and Timble: The Beginning, will be published on April 30th, 2024.

DiCamillo had published 25 books as of 2018.

As of 2021, almost 37 million copies of her books were in print.

In 2019 she was described as "Minnesota's most successful writer" in Mpls St Paul Magazine.