Cornelia Funke

(http://www.pocanticohills.org/womenenc/funke.jpg)

Most people would think of a hero as super, but I’ve got a different view of what a hero is. My hero is also my favorite author and illustrator, Cornelia Funke. She is an awesome writer. She was born in 1958, in Dorsten, Westphalia. She has worked as a social worker, a game board designer, and now as a children’s book author and illustrator. Her whole life she has been in Germany, until she moved to California in 2005. She has 2 children, a daughter, Anna, and a son, Ben. Shortly after she moved, her husband, Rolf, died. They were married for 26 years. She has a dog, Luna, 2 horses, Jaspur and Snegla, and a guinea pig, Midget. Her favorite movie is, Gods and Monsters. Her favorite music is Henry Purcell, Neil Young, and Annie Lennox.

She has really inspired me to write. Mostly to read, though. Most of her books are fairytales which is so cool. I love a happy ending and that’s what I love to write short stories about. I mostly write short stories for my sister because she’s learning to read and it’s really hard to find good topics so I summarize a couple of her chapters and make a story of my own.

When Cornelia she was little, she dreamed of being a pilot, living with the Red Indians, and/or being an astronaut. She was a good student as a child and loved to write essays.

Cornelia loves dragons and fairytales. She is currently working on a series of books, all about dragons. Three of her best selling books, The Thief Lord, Inkheart, and Dragon Rider, have been turned into movies and have sold millions. She originally writes all of her books in German, and then translates them to English before sending them to get published. In 2008, she is going to start selling the third book, Inkdawn, in stores. She also illustrates most of her books. She has written more than 40 children's literature books, including Dragon Rider.

That is a lot about my hero, Cornelia Funke. She is an amazing author, illustrator, and person. Anyone can judge someone, but this is how I judge her—amazing!!!