About Me (Reflections on L.J. Smith)

My Writing

When I was five I wrote my first book, my own version of Peter Pan. Okay so I didn�t actually write it. I drew the pictures and told my mom what to write and finished it up by stapling the pages together. Anyway, that was when I told my mother I was going to be a writer when I grew up. I haven�t changed my mind since. In elementary school I read a poem for a talent show even though I thought I�d die of stage fright. The summer before my freshman year of high school I attended the California State Summer School for the Arts on a full scholarship for creative writing. I�ve had a few poems published in anthologies. I�ve written two young adult novels as well as one aimed at adults. Although they�re not published yet I have gotten some encouragement and intend to keep on trying.

My Major

English is the second of two majors I was considering. The other one was anthropology which I fell in love with when I picked up a book on cultural anthropology my senior year of high school. I took an introductory class (all that�s offered at my school) and enjoyed it immensely. It�s fascinating how different cultures can be and yet how startlingly similar. I finally decided on English because as much as I loved anthropology I love reading and writing more. Other interests come and go but my adoration of literature is constant. I read pretty much anything and everything I can get my hands on. I tend to find young adult books a little more intriguing than literature aimed at adults. It�s hard to explain why.

My Wish

If I could have one wish it would be to make people more tolerant and open-minded of others differences because I think that people miss out on a lot due to prejudice. They stop seeing people as people and start seeing them as ideas or views. I don�t believe that this is helpful to any of the people involved and simplifies the complexity that makes up human beings.