How did David Almond become a writer?

David Almond was born in 1951 in Felling, Tyne and Wear, England. He was the youngest of five children. His father worked in a factory and his mother was a housewife. Almond had a difficult childhood, and he was bullied at school. He found solace in reading and writing, and he began to write poetry and short stories at an early age.

After leaving school, Almond worked in a number of jobs, including as a teacher, a social worker, and a youth worker. He also studied English literature at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. In 1998, he published his first novel, Skellig, which won the Whitbread Award for Children's Books. Skellig was a huge critical and commercial success, and it was translated into more than 30 languages.

Since then, Almond has published a number of other award-winning novels, including Kit's Wilderness, The Fire-Eater, and My Name is Mina. His work has been praised for its lyrical prose, its vivid imagery, and its exploration of themes such as grief, loss, and hope. Almond has also written several books for younger readers, including The Savage, Clay, and The Iron Man.

Almond is one of the most acclaimed children's writers of his generation. His work has been praised by critics and readers alike for its beauty, its power, and its truth. Almond is a gifted storyteller who has the ability to transport readers to other worlds and to make them see the world in a new way.