William Alexander (author) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Alexander
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| Born | William Joseph Alexander October 9, 1976 (age 48) |
| Occupation | Writer, academic |
| Alma mater | Oberlin College University of Vermont |
| Notable awards | National Book Award for Young People's Literature |
William Joseph Alexander (born October 9, 1976) is an American writer and teacher. He is known for writing exciting fantasy books for young people.
He teaches liberal arts at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. This college is located in Montpelier, Vermont.
William Alexander won a big award for his first novel, Goblin Secrets. This award is called the National Book Award for Young People's Literature. Goblin Secrets was released in 2012. The story is about an orphan boy who searches for his lost brother. Their adventure takes place in a magical city called Zombay.
Learning and Schooling
William Alexander studied at two different colleges. He went to Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio. There, he learned about theater and folklore. Folklore is the study of traditional stories and beliefs.
Later, he studied English at the University of Vermont. This university is in Burlington, Vermont.
Writing Adventures
William Alexander's first published story was "The Birthday Rooms." It was a short story, only seven pages long. It appeared in a magazine called Zahir in the summer of 2005. This story was nominated for an award in 2006.
Alexander says that other famous fantasy and mystery writers have influenced his style. These writers include Ursula K. Le Guin, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Susan Cooper. His book Goblin Secrets received great reviews. Even Ursula K. Le Guin, who wrote the Earthsea series, praised it. Peter S. Beagle, author of The Last Unicorn, also gave it a good review.
William Alexander has plans for more books set in the city of Zombay. He mentioned that Zombay is a very large place. Many different stories can happen there at the same time.
The first follow-up book was Ghoulish Song, released in March 2013. Alexander explained that Ghoulish Song is not exactly a direct sequel. Both Goblin Secrets and Ghoulish Song happen at the same time. They share some characters and scenes. However, they mostly tell different stories in various parts of Zombay.
His Books and Stories
Here are some of William Alexander's published works:
