Gail Carson Levine

Gail Carson Levine is an American author of young adult fantasy novels, best known for Ella Enchanted (1997), which won a Newbery Medal in 1998 and was later named one of Time magazine's 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time.

Gail Carson Levine grew up in Washington Heights, a neighbourhood in upper Manhattan. Her childhood was influenced by her father, who owned a commercial art studio, and her mother, a teacher who wrote plays for her students. Levine loved to read as a child, with Peter Pan and the works of Louisa May Alcott among her favourite books. She attended George Washington High School, where she explored her love of the theatre, performing in Androcles and the Lion.

Levine went on to study philosophy, first at Antioch College in Ohio and later at the City College of New York, where she graduated in 1969. After college, she worked for the New York State government, focusing on welfare and employment services. During this time, she began experimenting with writing.

In the 1970s, she wrote her first script for a children's musical called Spacenapped, which was performed by a Brooklyn theatre company. Despite these early efforts, Levine fully committed to writing later when she attempted to create The King's Cure, an art appreciation book for children. Although it was never published, Levine described the experience as pivotal: "Those years were some of my happiest. I learned to write.

Her determination finally paid off in 1996 when her manuscript for Ella Enchanted was accepted for publication. "That day, 17 April 1996, was one of the happiest days of my life," she recalls.

The novel, a reimagining of Cinderella, was published in 1997 and became a critical and commercial success. Its popularity led to a 2004 film adaptation and allowed Levine to retire from her government job to write full-time.

Levine followed her debut with Dave at Night (1999), inspired by her father's experiences in an orphanage. In The Wish (2000), she explored middle school life, researching to capture its dynamics. She also wrote The Two Princesses of Bamarre (2001), a fairy tale about bravery and sisterly love.

She created The Princess Tales series (1999–2002), short novels that reimagine classic fairy tales with clever twists. Levine later expanded the world of Peter Pan with Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg (2005) and its sequels. Other notable works include Fairest (2006), inspired by Snow White, and Ogre Enchanted (2018), a prequel to Ella Enchanted.

Levine has also written Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly (2006), a guide for young writers. She continues to teach writing workshops, saying, "I love the kids. It's the best thing I do".

Photo credit: www.gailcarsonlevine.com