Margaret Mahy

Date of Birth: March 21, 1936

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Date of Death: July 23, 2012

Biography

Margaret Mahy was a renowned New Zealand author known for her prolific contributions to children’s and young adult literature. Born in Whakatane, New Zealand, she showed an early interest in storytelling and reading. Mahy attended Auckland University College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English, followed by a Librarianship diploma from the New Zealand Library School. She worked as a librarian for many years, a profession that deeply influenced her writing. Mahy’s literary career took off with the publication of her first book, “A Lion in the Meadow,” in 1969. Over her lifetime, she wrote more than 100 picture books, 40 novels, and 20 collections of short stories. Her works are celebrated for their imaginative plots, rich language, and the ability to address complex themes in a way that is accessible to children and young adults. Mahy received numerous awards throughout her career, including the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2006, often referred to as the “Nobel Prize” of children’s literature. She was also made a member of the Order of New Zealand for her services to literature. Margaret Mahy’s legacy continues to inspire readers and writers around the world.

5 Interesting Facts about Margaret Mahy

1. Margaret Mahy wrote her first story at the age of seven.

2. She was awarded the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2006.

3. Mahy often incorporated elements of magic and fantasy into her stories.

4. She worked as a librarian for over a decade before becoming a full-time writer.

5. Margaret Mahy received the Order of New Zealand, the country’s highest honor, in 1993.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Margaret Mahy

1. “When you are writing for children, you need to be very aware of the way words sound and the way they taste in the mouth.”

2. “Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living.”

3. “Books are a uniquely portable magic.”

4. “Every book is a new journey. I never felt I was an expert on anything.”

5. “Writing is a form of therapy; sometimes I wonder how all those, who do not write, compose or paint can manage to escape the madness, melancholia, the panic fear which is inherent in a human condition.”