-
Edward Irving Wortis (Avi) was born in New York City to Joseph Wortis and Helen Wortis. He has a twin sister named Emily who named him Avi at a young age. The name just stuck and he says that it's the only one he uses!
-
He was raised in Brooklyn and grew up in a family of readers, writers, and artists, He remembers that his mother would read to him every night. The reason why he writes books is because he enjoyed reading them as a child. As a child, he says that he was shy, loved to read and "play games of imagination". He wanted to be a airplane designer, then a biologist, and later a Broadway playwright.
-
Avi describes himself as a bad student. In elementary school he did well in science, but was not a very skilled writer, The author failed all of his high school courses so therefore, his parents put him in a small school which focused on reading and writing. It didn't help much though. He had symptoms of dyslexia and dysgraphia which caused him to have poor spelling and reversed letters. His work was commented on being "sloppy" and messy overall.
-
When he was a senior, he decides to become an author. He wanted to prove that he could write.
-
He recieves a B.A. in history in the University of Wisconsin.
-
He was a librarian for 25 years which helped his writing. He worked at the New York Public Library's Theatre Collection. He was transfered in 1970 to Trenton State College's library.
-
He recieves a M.A. in drama in the University of Wisconsin.
-
Avi graduates from the University of Wisconsin and marries a weaver named Joan Gabriner.
-
He went back to school for the last time at Columbia University. Avi recieved his M.S. in library science.
-
He publishes first book.
-
Avi wins Christopher Award for Encounter at Easton.
-
Avi and Joan divorce.
-
He wins Scott O'Dell Historical Fiction Award for The Fighting Ground.
-
The author stops teaching classes as an ssistant professor. Then, he started to concentrate on on writing and writing only. He began to write for the Library Journal and School Library Journal.
-
He wins Newbery Honor for The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle.
-
Wins the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
-
He wins Newbery Honor for Nothing But the Truth.
-
He wins the Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor for Nothing But the Truth.
-
He wins the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Poppy.
-
He wins Newbery Medal for his fiftieth book, Crispin:The Cross of Lead.
-
He published a third book in the "Crispin" series titled "Crispin: At the End of Time".
-
Avi marries Coppelia Kahn which also ended. He then met his last wife, Linda C. Wright. He is the father of six children which include Kevin Wortis, Shaun Wortis, Hayden Kahn, Gabriel Kahn (step-child), Robert Wortis, Catherine Wortis, and Jack Spina.
-
As of now, he lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife, Linda and children who are adults. He has written books for many different types of readers in many different genres. Many people say, "You name it, Avi's written it." In all, the amazing author has published 71 books.
