Caroline B. Cooney is a prolific American author, well-known for her young adult novels which span various genres including suspense, romance, horror, mystery, fantasy, and historical fiction. Born with a passion for reading, Cooney grew up engrossed in The Hardy Boys and Cherry Ames novels. This early love for literature inspired her to pursue a career in writing, forgoing a college degree to focus on her craft.
Cooney's success can be attributed to her understanding of what appeals to young readers. She has written books in a wide range of genres, from suspense to mystery and romance. Her ability to connect with her audience stems from her early teaching experiences and her interactions with young people. Cooney has often mentioned that a significant influence in her writing career was a sixth-grade teacher who encouraged her to write. This teacher's focus on writing inspired Cooney to start writing at a young age, a passion she never abandoned.
With her children as her initial motivation, Cooney began writing stories for young people, eventually publishing in magazines and progressing to books. Suspense novels are her favorite to both read and write, as they guarantee action and intrigue. To maintain the realism in her stories, Cooney actively seeks opportunities to engage with teenagers, visiting numerous schools and organizing plotting games to generate story ideas.
Cooney has achieved remarkable success in her writing career, with over 15,000,000 copies of her books sold in various languages. Her most famous work, the young adult novel "The Face on the Milk Carton," has sold over 3,000,000 copies and was adapted into a television movie. Although she grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut, Cooney currently resides in South Carolina, enjoying her time with her grandchildren, playing piano, walking, and exploring hobbies such as pottery, jewelry-making, and reading.