Betty Cavanna
Betty Cavanna was a notable American author born in Camden, New Jersey, in 1909. Overcoming challenges from infantile paralysis during her childhood thanks to treatment and the encouragement of adults who read to her, she developed a passion for writing early on. Cavanna pursued her education at Douglas College, where she earned a degree in journalism in 1929. Her career began as a reporter at the Bayonne Times, later transitioning to the Westminster Press, where she worked for a decade in various roles, including advertising manager and art director. After marrying Edward Talman Headley in 1940 and focusing on writing following his death in 1952, she published her first young adult novel, "Puppy Stakes," in 1943, which marked the beginning of a prolific writing career, including the popular Connie Blair mystery series. Cavanna's travels around the world, especially after marrying George Russell Harrison, inspired her to create the nonfiction series "Around the World Today," which highlighted the lives of children in various cultures. She continued to write until her death at the age of ninety-two, and two of her works received recognition as runners-up for the Edgar Allan Poe Award.
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Betty Cavanna
Writer
- Born: June 24, 1909
- Birthplace: Camden, New Jersey
- Died: August 13, 2001
- Place of death: Vezelay, France
Biography
Betty Cavanna was born in Camden, New Jersey, in 1909. During her childhood, she suffered from infantile paralysis; eventually, with treatment and exercise, she overcame this crippling disease. During her convalescence, adults read her stories until she was old enough to read to herself. Cavanna attributed her love of writing to the adults who read to her during her long periods of confinement in bed.
In 1925, Cavanna enrolled at Douglas College in New Brunswick, New Jersey, where she majored in journalism and received a bachelor’s degree in 1929. She also studied art in New York City and Philadelphia. After graduation, she took her first job, becoming a reporter for the Bayonne Times. In 1931, she left this position to work at the Westminster Press in Philadelphia. She remained at the Westminster Press for ten years, working as an advertising manager and art director. In 1940, Cavanna married Edward Talman Headley and they had one son.
In 1941, Cavanna ended her career at Westminster Press and concentrated on becoming a full-time writer. In 1943, she published her first book young adult novel, Puppy Stakes. The book launched a career that included the publication of many books, including the Connie Blair mystery series, written under the pseudonym Betsy Allen.
Cavanna’s husband died in 1952, and five years later she married George Russell Harrison, a university dean of science. After their marriage, she and Harrison traveled throughout the world. These travels inspired Cavanna to write her first young adult nonfiction series, Around the World Today. The series, illustrated with photographs taken by her husband, portrayed the lives and cultures of children from several foreign countries.
Cavanna continued to write until her death at age ninety-two. Two of her books, Spice Island Mystery (1969) and The Ghost of Ballyhooly (1971), were runners-up for the Edgar Allan Poe Award.