Robert Edmund Cormier was a well-known columnist, author and reporter. He was born January 17, 1925, in Leominster, Massachusetts, to Irma and Lucien Cormier. He was the second of eight children and loved spending time with his family. For Cormier, family has always been more important than fame or fortune. Hard work and commitment led to jobs that helped prepare him to become an excellent writer. Over the course of his life he wrote many award-winning books; two of his most famous books are The Chocolate War and Now and at the Hour. Used as an escape from the harsh truths of life, writing was Cormier's (Smith) favorite hobby. During his childhood, his family moved to the French Hill area many times, but the family never left Leominster where his father, Lucien, supported the family. working in local factories. They moved frequently as the family grew to afford rent during the Depression (Hubbard). Cormier never felt a close bond with his father, as he was always busy working to provide for the family. Growing up his mother was always his biggest fan and encouraged him in everything he chose to do (Cormier). Although her mother was Irish, the Cormiers spoke English at home. Cormier always chose to write in English, but the characters in his stories had French-sounding names (Smith). Cormier was a bookish child and not particularly good at physical activities. He enjoyed reading all kinds of books and was happiest when he was at home with his family (Smith). Cormier attended St. Cecilia's Parochial School, a private Catholic school in the Leominster area. His experiences at school greatly influenced his life and writing in many different ways. In sixth grade, a nun encouraged him to write; that was the f... middle of the paper... utlook. While he was a student, teachers always encouraged him to write short stories and poems. The young Cormier never imagined that he would one day become a writer; he believed that writers only came from wealthy and prominent families. He was not born into wealth or fame; he worked hard to get jobs that would one day make him a famous author. The legacy he created hasn't gone away with him, it remains in each of his thrilling books. Works Cited Cormier, Robert. The Rag and Bone Shop. New York: Random House, Inc., 2003. Hubbard, Michael LeBarron, and Andrea. Roberto Cormier. 2002. April 9, 2014. Rothman, Ellen K. Robert Cormier. 2014. April 9, 2014. Smith, Nick. Biography of Robert Cormier (1925-2000). 2000. April 9 2014 .