I grew up in a little town with about 6,000 or 7,000 people. I always knew from 11 or 12 years old that I wanted to be a writer, and I always wanted to write about growing up in a place like that that's small and you don't fit into. John Corey Whaley 000fitgrow share on social
I've been an assistant to a folklorist and a teacher. There may or may not have been some sandwich-making at a certain sub chain in my past as well. John Corey Whaley assistantchainfolklorist Change image and share on social
I thought, 'What if I were 17, and it was my small town of Springhill, Louisiana? How would I feel if people started flooding in to see some bird?' John Corey Whaley birdfeelflood Change image and share on social
In the middle of my fourth year teaching is when I got my book contract - in 2010. I knew the book would come out in May 2011. John Corey Whaley bookcontractfourth Change image and share on social
I know what it's like to be from an incredibly small town and the oppressiveness of it and the desire to get out. But I didn't realize that readers in Seattle, New York, and San Francisco might not get that so instinctively. John Corey Whaley desirefranciscoincredibly share on social
I'm beyond thrilled to be working with Faber, whose literary history is second to none. And I'm even more excited to bring my books to a wider audience in the U.K. John Corey Whaley audiencebookbring Change image and share on social
Approaching my second novel was, admittedly, a bit of a struggle. But having an amazing team at Atheneum Books, especially my very patient, brilliant editor Namrata Tripathi, took a stressful situation and turned it into a really great learning experience for me. John Corey Whaley admittedlyamazeapproach share on social
I was thrilled when this year's National Book Award for Young People's Literature went to Neal Schusterman's 'Challenger Deep.' This brilliant book takes you into the mind of a mentally ill teenager and deserves all the accolades it's received. John Corey Whaley accoladeawardbook share on social
I'm completely obsessed with Andrew Smith's 'Winger.' A great, hilarious, and moving story. John Corey Whaley andrewcompletelygreat Change image and share on social
