Phyllis Reynolds Naylor was born on January 4, 1933, in Anderson, Indiana. She grew up in a family that held strong religious values and conservative, midwestern ideals. Naylor's childhood was marked by frequent moves due to her father's job as a salesman and the family's financial struggles during the Great Depression. However, she never felt impoverished because her family owned and cherished quality books, which they would often read aloud to one another. By the time Naylor reached the fifth grade, she had discovered a passion for writing, and she would rush home from school each day to craft stories.
Naylor's professional writing career began when she was sixteen, with her first story published in a local church magazine. She initially planned to become a clinical psychologist, but she eventually decided to pursue writing full-time. Naylor has now published over 80 books for children and young adults, with one of her most notable works, "Shiloh," earning the Newbery Medal in 1992. This heartwarming tale of a young boy and his rescue dog was inspired by a real-life encounter with an abused dog that deeply affected Naylor. The author's ideas often stem from personal experiences or things she has read, and she meticulously researches her subjects to create engaging, authentic stories.
In her own words, Naylor is "not happy unless she spends some time writing every day." She dedicates approximately six hours to writing and four hours to related tasks, such as responding to correspondence and contemplating her current project. The process of writing a children's book typically takes between three months and a year, while a novel for adults may require over a year due to its greater length. Naylor's writing is influenced by her family, personal experiences, and the characters that "travel with me inside my head." With more than 120 published books and 2000 short stories, articles, and poems to her name, Naylor has built a remarkable literary legacy. She currently resides in Bethesda, Maryland, with her husband, Rex, and they enjoy spending time together as a family during vacations. In her leisure hours, Naylor enjoys hiking, swimming, playing the piano, and attending the theater.