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//Date of Birth: February 1st, 1941 (69 years old) Birthplace: Norristown, Pennsylvania Occupation: Novelist/Author//
 * __Personal Info:__**

__**First steps he took into the world of writing:**__

Jerry Spinelli never had trouble coming up with new stories to write. He always had several leads to choose from due to the activities he particapated in. One of his inspirations came from a football victory against a rival team, and from this victory he composed a poem. His father then published his work in the local newspaper. The poem gained him respect among his peers.


 * __Publishing:__**

"Life is full of happy accidents." as quoted by Jerry Spinelli. The main reason I put this quote in under publlishing is that Jerry Spinelli started out as a adult book writer. He did not have much luck in publishing any of his first four novels. However, his fith novel, which was intended to be an adult book, was accepted by a children's book publisher. The adult book publishers would not even take a single glance at this novel when Spinelli pointed it their way. He was about 41 years old when his first book was published. After this happy accident set his focuses on writing children's novels instead of his main goal of writing for adult books.


 * __His Ideas:__**

Spinelli never seems to have trouble getting ideas because " Its all around me " as quoted by Jerry himself. He mostly acuires his thoughts or inspirations through memories of his past. Another method he uses is for conjuring up ideas is to look at everyday life. To be more exact if he sees something on the television that is facinating, and it provokes a flurry of ideas in his head, he uses it to begin a general brainstorm for a novel.


 * __How long it takes for Jerry Spinelli to write a book:__**

Jerry Spinelli doesn't really have a set date for when one of his works will be done. The reason being that he has a life out of writing and sometimes it contridicts some of his time he gets to work on his novels. Some of the contributating factors are his family and their needs, and also the demands of the book he is writing. When Jerry Spinelli wrote "Milkweed" it took him about a year and a half because his passion for exact detail was so great he spent most of his time doing research for the book instead of writing it.

__**What Jerry Spinelli does in his spare time:**__

In Jerry's eyes life is an easter egg basket and every aspiration do something is another egg that is yet to be opened. Spinelli loves and apreciates every moment he gets to spend with all sixteen of his grandchildren. I would have to say that Jerry Spinelli in my own eyes has undieing love and affection towards his grandchildren. His other love involves a more physically stimulating action and it is the sport of tennis. He simply cannot expirience any sence of unhappiness when he has a ball and racket in his hand. Space is an inner passion for Spinelli he is swooned by the sheer beauty of the Milky Way galaxy.


 * __His Family:__**

Jerry Spinelli is not lacking an any social interaction because of his wife, six children, and sixteen grandchildren. Whenever his family over to visit his house is anything but calm and peaceful. His wife's name is Eileen Spinelli, she is also a writer like her husband, but the thing Jerry enjoys the most about having another writer in the house is she can check over his book chapters to see if they make sence, and if any mistakes should be in existance. Jerry Spinelli is careful in what he puts in about his family because in this quote he explains "I want my children to make a name of their own in this world and not have me embellish it through my own."


 * __ Interview: __**


 * __Interviewer:__** What do you like to do besides write?


 * __Jerry Spinelli:__** I enjoy being around my grandchildren, and savor every moment I get to spend with them. I also love to pursue my passion for space, I find that the beauty of space is one of god's greatest achievements.


 * __Interviewer:__** How many kids do you have?


 * __Jerry Spinelli:__** I currently have 6 children and 16 grandchildren whom I adore.


 * __Interviewer:__** Is it easy to get good ideas?


 * __Jerry Spinelli:__** It is easy to get ideas, but not good ideas.


 * __Interviewer:__** How long does it usually take to write a book?


 * __Jerry Spinelli:__** From one month to one year, it depends on the book.


 * __Interviewer:__** Where do you get your ideas for your books? (Is it outside walking around, or from your head?)


 * __Jerry Spinelli:__** Both, from everyday life and from imagination, and also from memories.