Robin McKinley was born Jennifer Robin Carolyn McKinley on November 16, 1952 in Warren, Ohio. McKinley's father was in the Navy, so she grew up traveling— and reading. Among her literary influences are Andrew Lang's Blue Fairy Book, C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia,J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, and T. W. White's The Once and Future King.

McKinley influences and experiences can be seen in her work: her main characters are invariably strong, moral and heroic young women with a fondness for horses and dogs. She attended a preparatory school in Bethel, Maine called Gould Academy.

McKinley's interaction with fairy tale classics recalls her own girlhood, and this cherished time fuels her writing. Born a "Navy brat," Robin McKinley moved throughout her childhood. This resulted in few lasting friendships with other children. In response, McKinley developed a private, literary world...