Susan.Maries Swanson author page

Susan Marie Swanson biography

Susan Marie Swanson is an American author, poet, and educator known for her contributions to children’s literature. Born on May 19, 1955, in Hinsdale, Illinois, she developed an early interest in poetry and literature. Swanson pursued her passion academically, earning a Master of Fine Arts in poetry from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the early 1980s.

In 1983, Swanson began teaching poetry to children through the COMPAS Writers and Artists in the Schools program in Minnesota. Her work in education extended to summer arts programs at institutions such as St. Paul Academy and the Friends School of Minnesota. She has also contributed reviews and essays on children’s literature to publications including the New York Times Book Review and Riverbank Review, where she served as a contributing editor.

Swanson’s first book, Getting Used to the Dark: 26 Night Poems, illustrated by Peter Catalanotto, was published in 1997. She continued to explore the intersection of poetry and children’s literature with works like Letter to the Lake (1998) and The First Thing My Mama Told Me (2002), the latter receiving a Charlotte Zolotow Honor and being named a New York Times Best Illustrated Book.

Her 2008 picture book, The House in the Night, illustrated by Beth Krommes, earned the 2009 Caldecott Medal for its illustrations. The book also received a Minnesota Book Award and was recognized by the Association for Library Service to Children as a Notable Children’s Book.

Swanson’s contributions to literature and education have been acknowledged with fellowships from the Bush Foundation, the McKnight Foundation, and the Minnesota State Arts Board.