Because of Winn-Dixie: Kate DiCamillo

Kate DiCamillo's success did not happen overnight. For roughly a decade, before the public knew Because of Winn-Dixie or The Tale of Despereaux, DiCamillo worked odd jobs, submitted manuscripts, and collected nearly 400 rejection letters. "I decided a long time ago," DiCamillo says, "that I didn't have to be talented. I just had to be persistent."