Gloria Whelan
Encyclopedia
Gloria Whelan is a poet, short story writer, and novelist for children and adults. She has won the National Book Award
for her novel Homeless Bird. Her books include many historical fiction
novels, including a trilogy set on Mackinac Island
and a quartet series set in communist Russia
. Whelan is also the author of short stories which have appeared in The Ontario Review, The Virginia Quarterly Review, The Gettysburg Review, and other literary quarterlies. Her collection of short stories, Playing with Shadows, was published by the Illinois Press. Her stories have appeared in several anthologies and in Prize Stories: the O. Henry Awards. Whelan is, according to Liz Rosenberg in the Chicago Tribune, "an accomplished, graceful, and intelligent writer."
in 1945 and 1948, respectively. She married Joseph L. Whelan, a neurologist whom she met while working as a social worker, in 1948. They had two children and lived in the Detroit area while the children grew up, during which time Whelan wrote short stories and poetry.
In 1972, weary of the hectic pace of life in Detroit, the Whelans moved to a cabin on Oxbow Lake in the woods of northern Michigan, outside the small town of Mancelona. Their peace was soon disturbed, however, by an oil company that intended to drill on their property. Since the Whelans did not own the mineral rights to the land, the company razed three acres and sank an unsuccessful well, after which it departed. The experience inspired Whelan to write a children's novel about a young boy who worked on an oilrig. It was published as A Clearing in the Forest in 1978.
National Book Award
The National Book Awards are a set of American literary awards. Started in 1950, the Awards are presented annually to American authors for literature published in the current year. In 1989 the National Book Foundation, a nonprofit organization which now oversees and manages the National Book...
for her novel Homeless Bird. Her books include many historical fiction
Historical fiction
Historical fiction tells a story that is set in the past. That setting is usually real and drawn from history, and often contains actual historical persons, but the principal characters tend to be fictional...
novels, including a trilogy set on Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island is an island and resort area covering in land area, part of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located in Lake Huron, at the eastern end of the Straits of Mackinac, between the state's Upper and Lower Peninsulas. The island was home to a Native American settlement before European...
and a quartet series set in communist Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Whelan is also the author of short stories which have appeared in The Ontario Review, The Virginia Quarterly Review, The Gettysburg Review, and other literary quarterlies. Her collection of short stories, Playing with Shadows, was published by the Illinois Press. Her stories have appeared in several anthologies and in Prize Stories: the O. Henry Awards. Whelan is, according to Liz Rosenberg in the Chicago Tribune, "an accomplished, graceful, and intelligent writer."
Early life
Gloria Whelan was born in Detroit, Michigan on November 23, 1923, to William and Hildegarde (Kilwinski) Rewoldt. She took an interest in reading early in life with books and the school's newspaper.Experiences in Detroit and Michigan
She earned B.A. and M.S.W. degrees from the University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1945 and 1948, respectively. She married Joseph L. Whelan, a neurologist whom she met while working as a social worker, in 1948. They had two children and lived in the Detroit area while the children grew up, during which time Whelan wrote short stories and poetry.
In 1972, weary of the hectic pace of life in Detroit, the Whelans moved to a cabin on Oxbow Lake in the woods of northern Michigan, outside the small town of Mancelona. Their peace was soon disturbed, however, by an oil company that intended to drill on their property. Since the Whelans did not own the mineral rights to the land, the company razed three acres and sank an unsuccessful well, after which it departed. The experience inspired Whelan to write a children's novel about a young boy who worked on an oilrig. It was published as A Clearing in the Forest in 1978.
Established career
In the quarter century since she was first published, Gloria Whelan has written fifty-two works of historical and contemporary fiction for children and young adults. Although many of her books are set in the rural environs of northern Michigan, Whelan has also produced works set in exotic locales such as China, Vietnam, India, Czarist and communist Russia, and Kenya.Awards and honors
- 2003: National Outdoor Book AwardNational Outdoor Book AwardThe National Outdoor Book Award was formed in 1997 as a US-based non-profit program which each year honors the best in outdoor writing and publishing. It is housed at Idaho State University and chaired by Ron Watters. Awards are presented in ten categories. The award is announced in early November...
(Children's Category), Jam & Jelly by Holly & Nellie - 2000: National Book AwardNational Book AwardThe National Book Awards are a set of American literary awards. Started in 1950, the Awards are presented annually to American authors for literature published in the current year. In 1989 the National Book Foundation, a nonprofit organization which now oversees and manages the National Book...
(Young People's Literature), Homeless Bird
Works
- Small Acts of Amazing Courage (2011)
- See What I See (2010)
- The Listeners (2009)
- Waiting for the Owl's Call (2009)
- The Locked Garden (2009)
- K is for Kabuki (2009)
- After the Train (2009)
- The Disappeared (2008)
- Yuki and the One Thousand Carriers (picture book) (2008)
- Parade of Shadows (2007)
- Yatandou (picture book) (2007)
- Summer of the War (2006)
- The Turning (Russian Saga / Book 4) (2006)
- Mackinac Bridge / The Story of the Five-Mile Poem (picture book) (2006)
- Listening for Lions (2005)
- Chu Ju's House (2004)
- Burying the Sun (Russian Saga / Book 3) (2004)
- Friend on Freedom River (picture book) (2004)
- The Impossible Journey (Russian Saga / Book 2) (2003)
- A Haunted House in Starvation Lake (Starvation Lake / Book 4) (2003)
- Are There Bears in Starvation Lake? (Starvation Lake / Book 3) (2002)
- The Wanigan: A Life on the River (2002)
- Fruitlands: Louisa May Alcott Made Perfect (2002)
- Jam and Jelly by Holly and Nellie (picture book) (2002)
- Rich and Famous in Starvation Lake (Starvation Lake / Book 2) (2001)
- Angel on the Square (Russian Saga / Book 1) (2001)
- Homeless Bird (2000)
- Welcome to Starvation Lake (Starvation Lake / Book 1) (2000)
- Return to the Island (Mackinac Island Trilogy / Book 3) (2000)
- Miranda's Last Stand (1999)
- Forgive the River, Forgive the Sky (1998)
- Farewell to the Island (Mackinac Island Trilogy / Book 2) (1998)
- The Shadow of the Wolf (1997)
- The Miracle of St. Nicholas (picture book) (1997)
- Friends (1997)
- The Indian School (1996)
- Once On This Island (Mackinac Island Trilogy / Book 1) (1995)
- That Wild Berries Should Grow (1994)
- Night of the Full Moon (Libby Mitchell Trilogy / Book 2) (1993)
- Goodbye, Vietnam (1992)
- Bringing the Farmhouse Home (picture book) (1992)
- Hannah (1991)
- The Secret Keeper (1990)
- Silver (1988)
- A Week of Raccoons (picture book) (1988)
- Playing With Shadows (adult book) (1988)
- The Ambassador's Wife (adult book)
- The President's Mother (adult book)
- Next Spring an Oriole (Libby Mitchell Trilogy / Book 1) (1987)
- The Pathless Woods (1981)
- A Time to Keep Silent (1979)
- A Clearing in the Forest (1978)