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MEET NIKKI GRIMES
by Bonnie O'Brian

What did you most like to do when you were a child?

When I was a child, I loved to read and write poems.

Nikki Grimes

When did you begin to write?

I started writing when I was six years old. I wrote stories and poems at home and at school. I cannot remember a time when I didn't write.

When you went to college, were you already pursuing a writing career?

In college, I was already pursuing a career as a writer. I began publishing my poems in literary magazines in high school, and started reading my poetry at poetry cafes soon after.

When was your first book published?

My first book, GROWIN', a novel, was published in 1977.

Where do you get your ideas?

My ideas are drawn from real life, often from memories of my childhood.

Have any of your books earned special recognition?

A number of my books have enjoyed special recognition. BRONX MASQUERADE won the Coretta Scott King Award, COME SUNDAY was an ALA Notable, DARK SONS, JAZMINE'S NOTEBOOK, and THE ROAD TO PARIS all won Coretta Scott King Award Honors, among other awards and citations. I have had 8 titles in 17 California Collections:

BRONX MASQUERADE – 2006 High School California Collection

DARK SONS – 2007 High School California Collection

WELCOME, PRECIOUS 2004, 2005, 2007 Elementary California Collection

WHAT IS GOODBYE? – 2006, 2007, 2008 Middle School California Collection

WHEN GORILLA GOES WALKING – 2008 Elementary California Collection

COME SUNDAY – 2003, 2004, 2005 Elementary California Collection

JASMIN’S NOTEBOOK – 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 Middle School California Collection

MY MAN BLUE – 2001 Elementary California Collection

Do you enjoy researching or do you prefer working totally from your imagination?

I do enjoy research when my ideas require it. Sometimes, though, I get so excited by the research process that I have to remind myself to stop doing research, and to start writing!

When is your next book going to be in book stores?

The next book I have coming to bookstores required quite a bit of research. It is BARACK OBAMA, SON OF PROMISE, CHILD OF HOPE. This picture-book biography will come out in September 2008. I can hardly wait!