Gail Carson Levine

Gail Carson Levine, born in 1947, is an American author recognized for her young adult literature, particularly her reimagined fairy tales and fantasy novels. Her debut novel, "Ella Enchanted," earned a Newbery Honor in 1998 and later inspired a film. Before dedicating herself to writing full-time, Levine worked for the New York state government for 27 years, primarily in welfare administration. Her creative background includes parents involved in the arts and a childhood spent reading extensively. Levine's writing journey involved years of rejections and learning through classes and writer's groups before achieving publication. She has a history of drawing inspiration from personal experiences, family history, and classic fairy tales, often infusing them with new perspectives and strong female characters. Beyond her novels, Levine also conducts writing workshops for children, which led to the creation of her non-fiction book on writing.

Levine's works frequently explore themes of magic, love, and the importance of inner strength, kindness, and courage. She is known for her "Princess Tales" series, which offers inventive twists on traditional fairy stories, aiming to address logical gaps or offer fresh interpretations. Her books often feature romantic elements and conclude with positive resolutions. Her bibliography includes numerous titles that adapt classic stories, such as "Cinderella," "Sleeping Beauty," and "Snow White," alongside original fantasy works and adaptations of fables.

Gail Carson Levine was raised in New York City within a Jewish family. She attributes her creative inclination to her parents; her father, who owned a commercial art studio, was inspired by his own experiences in an orphanage for her novel "Dave at Night." Her mother was a teacher who wrote plays for her students. Levine's older sister was a painter. As a child, Levine was an avid reader, with "Peter Pan" being a favorite, alongside works by Louisa May Alcott and L. M. Montgomery. Initially, she considered careers in acting and painting before shifting her focus. She pursued a B.A. in philosophy from City College and spent nearly three decades in public service for New York State, mainly assisting individuals in finding employment.

Levine discovered her passion for writing after taking a class focused on children's literature. Despite facing numerous rejections over nine years, she found joy in the learning process, attending writing classes and participating in writer's groups. Her first published novel, "Ella Enchanted," received critical acclaim, including a Newbery Honor, enabling her to transition to writing full-time. This success was followed by "Dave at Night," inspired by her father's childhood. Levine continued to explore fairy tales, creating the "Princess Tales" series, which reimagines traditional stories with unique perspectives and logical resolutions. Examples include "The Fairy's Mistake" and "Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep." She also adapted fables like "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" and "Little Red Riding Hood" into picture books.

Levine has authored several original fantasy novels, including "The Two Princesses of Bamarre," which explores sisterhood and courage, and "Fairest," set in the same universe as "Ella Enchanted" and inspired by "Snow White." Her work "Ever" delves into ancient mythology. She also contributed to the "Disney Fairies" franchise with "Fairy Dust and the Quest For the Egg" and its sequels, set in Never Land. Levine's writing often centers on themes of magic, romance, and strong female protagonists. Her narratives frequently convey messages about kindness, selflessness, self-confidence, and bravery, often concluding with romantic relationships or marriage. Additionally, Levine leads writing workshops for children, which inspired her non-fiction book, "Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly."

“those years were some of my happiest. I was learning to write.”

“That day, April 17, 1996, was one of the happiest in my life.”

“I made up my own version of my father's childhood. It's entirely fiction, but I think the character of Dave is somewhat like my father. And I think that the friendship, the intense bonding, among the boys must be close to what happened.”

“I spent a day following an eighth grade class around, and I asked a lot of questions. I also interviewed several kids about their hobbies, their classes, their opinions on popularity and life.”

“After Ella Enchanted was published, I submitted some of my old, much rejected picture books to my editor. She liked one, which was then called Talk Is Cheap? But she thought it should be a short novel, rather than a picture book, and she asked me to do three more. That picture book turned into The Fairy's Mistake, and that's how the series got started.”