Alyssa Sheinmel - sylwetka autora

Born in Stanford, California, I relocated to New York at the age of six, yet my heart still identifies with California. As a child, in an attempt to differentiate myself from my sister who adored reading, I pretended to dislike books. Similarly, because pizza was her favorite, I feigned disinterest in it too—a decision I regret when I remember the delicious pizza dinners I missed.

By eight, I couldn't deny my love for reading any longer; it had become my greatest pastime. I was so taken with stories that, in moments when books were scarce, I wrote my own just to have something to dive into. Even without pen and paper, I invented tales and performed them solo, playing every role, never feeling the sting of boredom.

At eleven, I started attending Spence School in Manhattan, where supportive teachers nurtured my passion for literature. One teacher introduced me to F. Scott Fitzgerald, another opened the doors to magical realism, and yet another confirmed that Ernest Hemingway's works encompassed more than fly fishing. A particularly understanding teacher even allowed me to pen a sequel to a beloved novel as part of a school project, something I would have eagerly done on my own.

Following Spence, I enrolled at Barnard College, where again, remarkable instructors fueled my writing spirit and exposed me to a range of authors. Among these educators, one highlighted Joan Didion's work, for which I am immensely grateful, while I fervently debated with another over Hemingway's true literary depth.

Post-college, I took a job requiring formal attire, including high heels and blazers. I planned to continue writing on the side but gradually stopped, for over a year, confining my writing solely to journaling—a peculiar hiatus for someone who had been crafting stories since she could first manage a pen.

At 24, a fresh start at a new job rekindled my passion for writing, thanks to colleagues who shared wonderful literary recommendations. I rediscovered the joy of storytelling and began writing once more. Within a couple of years, that passion culminated in "The Beautiful Between."

Today, though I might not write every day, often getting sidetracked or simply choosing to indulge in TV reruns of "The West Wing," my commitment to writing persists. Inevitably, I return to my computer, reminded of the sheer delight writing brings. For me, writing flourishes most when it's done purely for the joy of it.