Angela Johnson was born on June 18, 1961, in Tuskegee, Alabama. She was raised in a home with both her parents and one brother. Angela Johnson began writing at an early age, when her parents bought her a diary.
While Angela Johnson was in high school, she desired to be a teacher or a lawyer. While in high school, her parents encouraged her to write. Angela Johnson started writing, what was referred to as “punk” poetry. However, this type of writing was not accepted by her schools literary guild. Instead of this being discouraging to her, Ms. Johnson was charged by it.
After high school, Angela Johnson attended Kent University, where she studied Special Education. She later ended up quitting college to pursue her writing. During this time, Ms. Johnson worked as a nanny for Cynthia Rylant, a notable children’s books author. After discovering Ms. Johnson’s writing talents, Cynthia Rylant shared her Angela’s picture book with her own publisher. Angela felt that she had finally reached her big break after she was contacted by the publisher, requesting to publish her story. Ms. Johnson attributed her fortune to Cynthia Rylant and the connection they had, for this huge moment.
Angela Johnson published her first picture book in 1989. Her first story, Tell Me A Story, Mama, won the Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award in 1991. Many of Ms. Johnson’s stores have connections to Alabama and Alabama history. She wrote stories about African-American families, friendships, and common childhood experiences. Some of her stories also catered to the more serious issues such as teen pregnancy and divorce that older children could relate to. Angela Johnson continued her writing career producing over 40 books. The Other Side, When I Am Old With You, Toning The Sweep, and The First Part Last are some of her well known writings.
Throughout her career, Angela Johnson has been awarded three Coretta Scott King Awards, the Michael L. Printz Award, MacArthur Fellowship, and the Golden Kite Award for Picture Book Illustration. Angela was awarded an honorary doctorate from her former college, Kent University in 2007 and she received the Virginia Hamilton Literary Award in 2013.
“If the world were really right, humans would live life backward and do the first part last. They’d be all knowing in the beginning and innocent in the end…” -Angela Johnson, The First Part Last
https://www.ajohnsonauthor.com/
- In high school, you desired to be a teacher or a lawyer. What made you turn to writing instead?
- How did it feel after winning your very first award?
- You studied Special Education in college. I am a Assistant Teacher in a special education setting. What encouraged you choose that particular study?
- Do you have any regrets of not becoming a teacher?
- Do you ever consider teaching in the near future?