Laura Whitcomb

American novelist and teacher

Laura Whitcomb

Born|  (1958-12-19) December 19, 1958 (age 65)
Pasadena, California, U.S.
Occupation| Author
Website
www.laurawhitcomb.com

Laura Whitcomb (born December 19, 1958) is an American novelist and teacher.[1] She is best known for her book A Certain Slant of Light,[2] which has been optioned for a film by Summit Entertainment.[3] Whitcomb has won three Kay Snow awards and was runner-up in the Bulwer-Lytton Writing Contest.[4][when?]

## Background[edit]

Whitcomb grew up in Pasadena California in a mildly haunted house.[citation needed] She received a degree in English from California State University in 1993. Whitcomb wrote several books including A Certain Slant of Light in 2005, and its companion novel Under the Light in 2014. She also authored the historical fiction novel, The Fetch and a couple of how-to books titled Novel Shortcuts: Ten Techniques to Ensure a Great First Draft, and Your First Novel: An Author Agent Team Share the Keys to Achieving Your Dreams.[5] She has taught language arts in California and Hawaii and was the runner up in the Bulwer-Lytton writing contest for the best first sentence of the worst science fiction novel never written. She lives in Wilsonville, Oregon.[citation needed]

## Reception[edit]

Critical reception for Whitcomb's work has been mixed to positive.[6] Kirkus Reviews has largely panned Whitcomb's work, criticizing it for being "forgettable" and not living up to its promise.[7][8] In comparison, the American Library Association made A Certain Slant of Light one of their book picks for 2006 and the book was praised by Publishers Weekly.[9][10][11] However, A Certain Slant of Light was chosen for the "Discover Great New Writers" program at Barnes & Noble bookstores. The Fetch was #5 in the top ten of Children's Indie Next List 2009.

## Published works[edit]

### Fiction[edit]

* A Certain Slant of Light (2005)[12][13]
* Under the Light (2014)[14]
* The Fetch (2010)[15][16]

### Non-fiction[edit]

* Novel Shortcuts (2011)
* Your First Novel: An Author Agent Team Share the Keys to Achieving Your Dream (2012, with Ann Rittenberg)

## References[edit]

1. ^ "AUTHOR INJECTS ENERGY INTO ENGLISH CLASS, 'CERTAIN SLANT OF LIGHT' NOVELIST SPEAKS TO SAYRE STUDENTS". Lexington Herald-Leader. October 29, 2005. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
2. ^ "Review: A Certain Slant of Light". The Horn Book Magazine. Nov 1, 2005.
3. ^ "Twilight Producers Move On To New Young Adult Novel, A Certain Slant Of Light". Cinema Blend. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
4. ^ "LAURA WHITCOMB Q&A". Writers Digest. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
5. ^ "Laura Whitcomb." Contemporary Authors Online. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Gale Biography In Context. Web. 22 Oct. 2012.
6. ^ "Audio Review: A Certain Slant of Light". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
7. ^ "Review: A Certain Slant of Light". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
8. ^ "Review: The Fetch". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
9. ^ "Review: A Certain Slant of Light". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
10. ^ "Review: The Fetch". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
11. ^ "ALA Book Picks 2006". Library Journal. Archived from the original on 9 December 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
12. ^ "Review: A Certain Slant of Light". Booklist. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
13. ^ "Audio Review: A Certain Slant of Light". Booklist. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
14. ^ Whitcomb, Laura (2014-04-15). Under the Light (Reprint ed.). Place of publication not identified: HMH Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780544302945.
15. ^ "Review: The Fetch". Booklist. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
16. ^ "Audio Review: Fetch". Booklist. Retrieved 23 November 2012.

## External links[edit]

* Official website

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* United States
* Korea
* Poland