Slater, David Michael 1970-

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Slater, David Michael 1970-

PERSONAL:

Born May 8, 1970, in Pittsburgh, PA; son of Harvey (a burn surgeon) and Beverly (a teacher) Slater; married; wife's name Heidi (a library media specialist); children: Maxwell. Education: University of Michigan, B.A., 1992; Carnegie-Mellon University, M.A., 1994; Lewis and Clark College, M.A.T., 1995.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Portland, OR. Agent—Jennifer Carlson, Dunow, Carlson & Lerner, 27 W. 20th St., Ste. 1007, New York, NY 10011; Robin Kaver, Robert A. Freedman Dramatic Agency, 1501 Broadway, Ste. 2310, New York, NY 10036.

CAREER:

Seventh-grade language arts teacher in Portland, OR, 1995—.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Winner of "new talent" award, Great American Novel Contest, 2000, for Selfless; winner of Cascadia Exchange Award, Pacific Northwest Playwrights Guild, 1996; honor book selection, Society of School Librarians International, for The Ring Bear.

WRITINGS:

FOR CHILDREN

Cheese Louise!, illustrated by Steve Cowden, Whitecap Books (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada), 2000.

The Ring Bear: A Rascally Wedding Adventure, illustrated by S.G. Brooks, Flashlight Press (New York, NY), 2004.

Jacques & Spock, illustrated by Debbie Tilley, Clarion Books (New York, NY), 2004.

Ned Loses His Head, illustrated by S.G. Brooks, Abdo Publishing (Edina, MN), 2007.

Flour Girl, illustrated by S.G. Brooks, Abdo Publishing (Edina, MN), 2007.

The Sharpest Tool in the Shed, illustrated by Brandon Reibeling, Abdo Publishing (Edina, MN), 2007.

Missy Swiss, illustrated by Brandon Reibeling, Abdo Publishing (Edina, MN), 2007.

7 Ate 9, illustrated by Zachary Trover, Abdo Publishing (Edina, MN), 2007.

Comin' Through, illustrated by Veronica Rooney, Abdo Publishing (Edina, MN), 2007.

The Bored Book, Simply Read Books (Vancover, British Columbia, Canada), 2008.

FOR ADULTS

Selfless (novel), Absey (New York, NY), 2008.

SIDELIGHTS:

David Michael Slater told CA: "What first got me interested in writing was probably the play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, by Tom Stoppard. I first read it in high school, then again in college. I was inspired to write my own version of two characters having absurd philosophical conversations.

"My work is influenced by my favorite writer, Jorge Luis Borges. And anything that makes me chuckle.

"Usually, I don't know where my stories are going, and consequently I tend to use a rather circular style. I write until I'm stuck, then simply begin revising from the start until I can inch the story forward. When I'm stuck again, I start again. And so on.

"The most surprising thing I've learned as a writer is that it takes an ungodly, possibly pathological, persistence to get your work published. Exhibit A: my three giant binders stuffed with rejection letters."

In response to the question, "Which of your books is your favorite and why?," Slater said: "At the risk of cliché: that's like asking a father which of his children is his favorite! In truth, I'm usually most excited about whatever my newest work happens to be."