Born in Los Angeles May 23, 1903, Scott O'Dell remained in southern California all of his life. Living near the sea and in what he called "frontier country," O'Dell later captured many of his childhood experiences in his novels.

By the time he entered college, he knew he wanted to be a writer and was discouraged to find most college degree programs did not offer what he thought necessary for becoming a successful writer.

As a result he studied psychology, philosophy, history, and English without regard for earning a degree. He worked briefly as a cameraman on Ben-Hur in Rome and spent a year in Texas writing adult novels. He pursued a career in journalism as a book editor for a Los Angeles newspaper. After publishing several successful adult novels, O'Dell turned to writing for children, which he considered more rewarding because, he believed, children are...