Bio:

Christine Day (Upper Skagit) grew up in Seattle, nestled between the sea, the mountains, and the pages of her favorite books. Her debut novel, I Can Make This Promise, was a best book of the year from NPR, as well as a Charlotte Huck Award Honor Book, and an American Indian Youth Literature Award Honor Book. Her second novel, The Sea in Winter, was a Top 10 Indie Kids’ Next List selection, a finalist for the Pacific Northwest Book Award, and an American Indian Youth Literature Award Honor Book. She also wrote She Persisted: Maria Tallchief, an early reader biography inspired by Chelsea Clinton’s bestselling picture book. Christine lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family.

Her work is represented by Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc.

FAQ:

What tribe are you from? What is your background?

I’m an enrolled citizen of the Upper Skagit tribe. (It’s pronounced SKA-jit.) My mother is of Upper Skagit and Nooksack descent, and my father is of Northern European (mostly Norwegian) descent.

What made you want to become a writer?

I’ve always loved books and writing. Growing up, this was my dream job. I can’t imagine doing anything else.

Why do you write kids’ books?

Because kids’ books consist of the most fun, innovative, and universal literature in existence. No one can convince me otherwise.

Where do your ideas come from? What inspires you?

My ideas come from everywhere. Some of my most frequent sources of inspiration include: the people around me; the rainy, wild landscapes of the Pacific Northwest; little-known histories; the sounds and meanings of certain words (like “whimsical,” or “verklempt”); the vastness of the ocean; memories that evoke strong emotions.

For more about me, you can read through my blog, or follow me on social media! Find me @ByChristineDay on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.