Alex Ornbo Ornbo1
11/24/10
Mr.Smit
The Wave Author Todd Strasser
Todd Strasser writes his books largely out of his own experience or remembered feeling, and always with his readers in mind. He tries to observe young people whenever he can, and when he can't, he will eavesdrop on their conversations in places where they hang out. One of his favorite things to do is visit schools, where he talks about what it's like to be a writer.
Strasser grew up in New York City, and says he was an underachiever in school. He was a poor writer, a terrible speller, and wasn't given any encouragement at all until he got to college. He didn't do much when he first went to college. When it became clear that he would not have to go to Vietnam, he dropped out and did not go back to school until he really knew what he wanted to do. He wanted to be a writer.
By this time he had already begun to write some poetry and short fiction, but did not expect his work to be published. He hitchhiked around Europe and the U.S. and lived for a while on a commune in Virginia. He kept journals and wrote letters. He began to fill up on experiences that would help shape him as a person and a writer. At Beloit College, he took courses in literature and creative writing. After graduating, he had jobs as a newspaper reporter and advertising copywriter. But, he I was never happy telling someone else's stories. He wanted to tell his own.
Todd Strasser is not just an author but a writer in the fullest sense. He contributes articles to such periodicals as the New Yorker, Esquire, The New York Times, and The Village Voice. He writes for television and has adapted novels from movies (such as Free Willy) and TV films (such as The Wave) into well-crafted novels that children can enjoy as a reading experience. It's fun to write novelizations like Home Alone and Free Willy.
Many of his early books were for young adults, and he still enjoys writing for teenagers, but more...