Inspiration of an Author

Have you even been inspired?  What were you inspired to do?  I often am inspired to write poetry, books, blogs, and even paint paintings!  Different things in nature or events that have happened in my life and even people inspire me to do these things.  Jerry Spinelli is no different.  He gets inspiration from a number of places when he begins writing a book!  I recently learned that the seed to his inspiration of
Maniac Magee came from a song written in the 1960's!  It was called "Dancin in the Street" by Martha and the Vandals.  He states that it was his fictional expression of his vision for everyone-of every race and every background-dancing in the streets, that the song evokes.  Maniac even bears a close resemblance of one of Jerry's childhood friends.  This friend was an orphan and often became restless during class.  This student was allowed to get up and take a lap around the classroom.  Jerry said he remembered him running practically every where.  Amanda Beale came from a student that Jerry met while visiting a school as an adult.  The 6th grader he met that day did actually carry around a whole suitcase of books to keep them safe from her siblings.  So you see as writers we can funnel inspiration from any part of our life and experiences.  Set the writer inside you free!