Hovey, Kate A.
February 27, 1950 –
Place of Birth: Flint, MI
Biography:
Kate A. Hovey was born to William Gifford and Eddie Hovey in Flint, MI on February 27, 1950. She first became inspired to write from her many visits to the collection of marble statues of J. Paul Getty Museum’s Greco-Roman antiquities collection in Malibu. She wrote poems dedicated to ancient Greek mythology, but remained too shy to show anyone until seventh grade, when an English teacher encouraged her in her writing. Hovey dismissed any dreams of being an author in college, instead getting a B.A. in journalism. Her first job was working as a features writer for The Sanford Herald in North Carolina, and then worked for The Fayetteville Observer as a court reporter, columnist, and features writer. Hovey married Grand O. Gullickson and moved to California with her family before taking up poetry again. She attended UCLA and studied under Myra Cohn Livingston, a noted poet and anthologist. Her poem Arachne Speaks was made into a picture book in 2001 and her children’s collection was published in 2004. Currently Kate works as a writer, designer, and metalsmith, and has made masks for university theater productions.
Selected Works:
- Arachne Speaks (2001)
- Voices of the Trojan War (2004)
- Ancient Voices (2004)
Awards:
- 2002 Marion Vannett Ridgway Honor Book Award for Arachne Speaks
- 2002 Mellen Press Poetry Prize Honorable Mention for The Book of Sarai
Critical Reception:
Arachne Speaks was praised by authors Lee Bennett Hopkins and Geraldine McCaughrean, and in addition achieved a starred review in Publisher’s Weekly. The book also was given a Marion Vannett Ridgeway Memorial Honor Book Award in 2002. Her book, Ancient Voices, was described by Pulitzer prize-winning poet as “an excellent storytelling medium – clear, pictorial, and full of action.” Voices of the Trojan War was named a Notable Book by the National Council of Teachers of English in 2005. Kirkus Reviews commented “Hovey offers a fresh and elegant take on the old stories for young readers.” Publishers Weekly stated that Hovey’s style “is cohesive, powerful, and striking.”
Relevance of Place to Author’s Work:
Kate attended Michigan State University where she worked for the school’s student-run daily newspaper. She continued her work in journalism before returning to studying poetry at UCLA.