Even though Sharon Creech has lived in England and Switzerland since 1979, her main characters are American because that is Creech's "natural narrative voice." To create realistic plots and characters, Creech relies on personal experiences. Her protagonists are sensitive young adults who have a sense of humor in spite of the dilemmas they face throughout adolescence. Creech's novels are usually multilayered and are about topics such as grief, loss, love, and interior journeys. She writes with the intent to expand her readers' horizons; she hopes to increase their awareness and understanding of people who are different from them.
Creech was born on July 29, 1945, in Cleveland, Ohio. She was raised in a Cleveland suburb in the midst of a large, noisy family that gathered around the kitchen table to tell stories. Because the stories were exciting, Creech learned early on to embellish her stories and exaggerate, as a guarantee that family members would listen. Throughout elementary school and high school, writing piqued Creech's interest. She attributes her enthusiasm toward writing to her natural inclination to write and to teachers who taught her writing skills and provided encouragement. Creech was fascinated with writing instruments such as pens and pencils, paper, and books. She stockpiled these instruments and treasured them. Creech was also an avid reader. Although she doesn't remember many titles of the books she read, Creech recalls the experience of reading. She loved reading the legends of King Arthur, Greek myths, American Indian myths, and Ivanhoe in particular. The most thrilling career she could imagine was that of a writer or a teacher, because teachers use books every day.
After graduating from high school, Creech attended Hiram College, where she received a bachelor's degree, and then George Mason University in Washington, D.C., where she earned a Master of Arts degree. While in graduate school, Creech's interest in writing grew when she took a writing course taught by John Gardner and attended workshops where writers such as John Irving and James Dickey talked about their craft.
