September 4, 1924

Joan Aiken (September 4, 1924 to January 4, 2004) was an English writer. Her children's stories often had a whimsical element. She received a Carnegie Medal, and others, including the British MBE honors (1999).

In a blurb for Her book Fog Hounds, Wind Cat, Sea Mice: Three Stories, (1984) we read:

In “Wind Cat,” Lukey Web has come to live with Aunt Mildrith, who used to be a witch and is writing a book about the history of magic mirrors while studying footprints in the sky. When their neighbors go on vacation, a striped cat named Tib is left in Lukey and her aunt’s care. It isn’t until 1 of Tib’s 9 lives is threatened that Lukey discovers her own awesome gifts.

Joan Aiken was born in a 17th century house two miles from the English channel. Her mother was Canadian and married more than one poet. Joan's father was the Pulitzer Prize winning American writer, Conrad Aiken. And from her father she inherited not just talent but a love for cats.