Haven Kimmel facts for kids

Haven Kimmel (born in 1965) is an American writer. She writes novels, poems, and true stories about her life.

About Haven Kimmel's Life and Books

Haven Kimmel was born Susan Elizabeth Jarvis in New Castle, Indiana. She grew up in Mooreland, Indiana. This small town is the main setting for her popular book, A Girl Named Zippy (2001). This book is a memoir, which means it's a true story about her own life.

A Girl Named Zippy is told from Haven's point of view as a young girl. It shares fun and interesting stories about the people in Mooreland during the 1960s and 1970s. Her father gave her the nickname "Zippy." When she was 18, she changed her name to Haven Skye.

Her second memoir, She Got Up Off the Couch, also shares stories from her childhood. It tells about her mother, Delonda. Delonda decided to go back to college when she was older. She eventually became a teacher. Haven says she never planned to be a writer. But by age 21, she felt called to write poetry. She wrote poems for the next 15 years.

Haven Kimmel's Education and Family

Haven Kimmel studied English and creative writing. She earned her first degree from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. She then got a graduate degree from North Carolina State University. There, she learned from the famous novelist Lee Smith. She also attended a special school called Earlham School of Religion.

Today, Haven Kimmel lives in Durham, North Carolina. She has three children named Kat, Obadiah, and Augusten. Augusten was named after the American writer Augusten Burroughs.

Haven Kimmel's Other Books

Before writing her memoirs, Haven Kimmel was a poet. She has written several novels. The Solace of Leaving Early (2002) and Something Rising (Light and Swift) (2004) are two of her novels. They are set in a made-up place called Hopwood County, Indiana. The third book in this series is called The Used World (2007).

She has also written books for younger readers. Orville: A Dog Story (2003) is a poetic children's book. Another children's book is Kaline Klattermaster's Tree House (2008). Her other works include Killing the Buddha: A Heretic's Bible (2004). This book retells parts of the Book of Revelation. Her novel Iodine (2008) is a psychological story about a young woman.

Haven Kimmel's Published Works

Here is a list of some of Haven Kimmel's books:

• 2001 A Girl Named Zippy: Growing up Small in Mooreland, Indiana, a true story about her life (ISBN: 0-385-49982-5)
• 2002 The Solace of Leaving Early, a novel (ISBN: 0-385-49983-3)
• 2003 Orville: A Dog Story, a children's book (ISBN: 0-618-15955-X)
• 2004 Something Rising (Light and Swift), a novel (ISBN: 0-7432-4775-2)
• 2005 She Got Up Off the Couch, and Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland, Indiana, a true story about her life (ISBN: 0-7432-8499-2)
• 2007 The Used World, a novel (ISBN: 0-7432-4778-7)
• 2008 Kaline Klattermaster's Tree House, a children's book (ISBN: 978-0-689-87402-4)
• 2008 Iodine, a novel (ISBN: 978-1-416-57284-8)

Awards and Special Honors

Haven Kimmel has received several awards and honors for her writing:

• She was nominated for the Orange Prize in England in 2003 for her novel The Solace of Leaving Early.
• She has received two grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). These grants help support artists and writers.