This is the first post in our Author of the Week series.
Edwidge Danticat was born in 1969 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. As a young child her parents emigrated to the United States leaving her to be raised by her aunt and uncle. Her formal education was in French but she spoke Kreyol at home. At the age of 12 she moved to the United States to live with her parents. Two years later she wrote in first publication, in English.
She followed her love of writing and literature all through school, even earning an MFA in creative writing. Her thesis for her MFA would later become the novel Breath, Eyes and Memory.
Her novels often feature stories dealing with hardship, heartache and hope in Haiti. Her poetic voice tells the powerful stories of suffering and renewal and of the unyielding strength of the Haitian people. Her books continue to be recognized for National Book Awards, American Book Awards and Story Prizes.
To learn more about Edwidge Danticat visit AALBC
