A New York Times best-selling author and daughter of a local icon, is visiting Galesburg this week to speak with residents and share her stories.
Jennifer Niven, Author of the book “All the Bright Places,” is being featured at a number of events this week as a part of the Carl Sandburg Days Festival. Niven is also the daughter of Carl Sandburg Biographer Penelope Niven.
Jennifer Niven says she learned a lot from her mother over the years. Penelope, or “Penny,” as she was known by many, passed away last year at the age of 75.
Niven tells the WGIL Evening News, that her mother remained a close ally–yet she let her be an independent story teller.
“She’s always been so influential with the writing and with everything in my life,” says Niven. “She taught me to find the story in everything. When I first started writing professionally, I wanted to–as I used to say when I was little–do it by myself–and I did. I wanted to find an agent who wasn’t my mom’s agent, because I wanted to find it on my own–but–we were always each other’s first editor, and that was just such an amazing thing to be able to do.”
“All The Bright Places,” is reportedly being optioned out for a movie due to its success. Niven will be at Carl Sandburg College Saturday, leading a writers workshop for aspiring middle school and high school students.
