Andrew Clements

Andrew Clements was born in Camden, New Jersey in 1949. He lived in Oaklyn and Chery Hill until he was in sixth grade when together with his family, they relocated to Springfield, Illinois. He began his writing as a senior high school student in Springfield High School. His journey as an author had not been a one day event. At a tender age, he had become accustomed to reading many books. This was part of his activity during summer times together with his family where they used to spend time in a cabin in a lake in Maine. During these days, he spent his nights reading after busy fishing during the day. These quiet moments helped him to start thinking like a writer and consequently he began to read more and more. A defining moment in Andrew Clements’ journey as a writer, came when he was handed back a poem he had written by his English teacher. To what he did not expect, he had scored an A which he admits was a rare event in his teacher’s class. Additionally, the teacher went further to lavish praise on his piece of writing and even suggesting that it should be published. This was a fuel of inspiration which carried him through to Northwestern University making him to trust in his own writing ability. Occasionally at Northwestern University, he would get encouragement from his professors on his writing. He began to write on his own aside from class assignment. He took a literature major where he faired high in essays and poetry. Clements took interest in writing songs and poems, and learned how to play a guitar while in Northwestern University. However, he wrote when he felt like and did not write without an inner go-ahead spirit. He viewed writing as a hard work, which he admits even now.