Karen Cushman is the author of nine historical novels for young people, including the Newbery Award winner, The Midwife’s Apprentice, and the Newbery Honor-winning Catherine Called Birdy. Her book-in-progress is set in San Diego in 1941. Karen started writing at age fifty and has no plans to stop now. She and Philip, her husband of 50 years, have lived on Vashon since 2002. They have one daughter, Leah, who is a book buyer at Powell’s books.