Born on August 7th, Betsy Byars has written over fifty books for young people since 1962. Her books have been translated into nineteen different languages. After she graduated from college, Betsy began her writing career by publishing short magazine articles. But when she started reading to her own children, she decided to write for young people instead. Her first book, Clementine, was rejected by many publishers before it was accepted.
Since then she has published a series of books about the Bean family; Herculeah Jones, Bingo Brown, and the Blossoms. The Pinballs is about three foster kids who have been neglected by their parents, and come to believe that nobody cares about them. However, the Masons help them to realize that they can forget past neglects. In After the Goat Man, some kids help an old man fight against those who want to take his land for a super highway. The Midnight Fox is Betsy Byars' favorite. A black fox is trapped on his aunt and uncle's farm. In caring for the fox, a young boy learns to deal with his own growth and independence.
Betsy Byars lives with her husband on an air strip in South Carolina. The bottom floor of their house is a hangar, and the two pilots can taxi out and take off from their front yard. Most days Betsy drives to a log cabin where she spends the day reading and writing.
Betsy Byars has won the Newbery Medal in 1971 for Summer of the Swans, the American Book Award in 1981 for The Night Swimmers, and the Edgar in 1992 for Wanted: Mud Blossom.
