From A Year in the Life of a Total and Complete Genius : Assignment: Famous Author Biography Today we start the next unit on Famous Authors. We'll be studying the lives of some of the great poets and novelists of yore. I would like each of you to write two to four paragraphs about your favourite author. Please talk about his or her life and career. Are you inspired by their life story or something they wrote? Why is he/she your favourite author? Do you have a favourite book by them? Make sure your grammar and spelling are correct and that you use different types of sentences. Due: March 24There will be no extensions given on this assignment. My Favourite Author By Arthur Bean Arthur Bean was born in a hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba. His parents, Ernest and Margaret Bean, were ecstatic and proclaimed his talents early. Moving to Calgary when Arthur was only two years old, Arthur quickly became a fixture in the literary scene. He was reading chapter books before his seventh birthday, and decided to be an author quickly thereafter. His first poem, called "Rain," was published in the school newsletter in grade five, setting his career into motion. After "Rain," Arthur's stories took on a more serious tone. The playful nature of his first poem was subtly mocked in his first short story called "Lightning Storms over Disneyland." He began developing his characters in more realistic ways in his story "Sockland," a break-through story that got highly positive reviews from Mrs. Lewis, a highly regarded grade six teacher. Arthur's writing career was put on hiatus after Marg Bean died last year. She was his muse, and greatest fan. But he has come back full force this year with a strong manuscript in the city-wide writing competition. He expects to win $200, his first prize in what promises to be a very long writing career. He is also an amateur actor and investigative journalist. Arthur's career means a lot to me because it is mine. I think that he captures what I am feeling and thinking in what he writes, and he is very clever. Mr. Bean, This is an unacceptable interpretation of this assignment. This kind of snide mocking of the school system is juvenile, unoriginal and rude. I expect you to take home this letter to your parents and return it with a signature tomorrow. Mrs. Carrell Excerpted from A Year in the Life of a Total and Complete Genius by Stacey Matson All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.