�5�Nicholas was born in his home state of Omaha, Nebraska, on New Year's Eve, eighty minutes to the year of 1966. His father was Patrick Michael Sparks, a professor, and Jill Emma Marie Sparks his mother was a homemaker and optometrist's assistant. Nicholas was the middle child, with an older brother Michael Earl Sparks (1964- ) and a younger sister, Danielle Sparks (1966-2000), who died at the age of 34. Nicholas, Michael and Danielle were born Roman Catholic and of the German, English and Irish ancestry. While Nicholas’s father resided in school to get his masters at the University of Minnesota, his family moved with him. They lived there by his side for two years. Nicholas can only remember very little, since he was so young at the time. But after Nicholas’s father, Patrick had been accepted to go to University of Southern California to earn his PhD in 1969, the whole family picked up and left there small town to head to Los Angeles. They all lived there comfortably giving Patrick as much support as he needed. Four years later, Nicholas, Jill, Danielle and Michael went to Grand Island, Nebraska to live for a year while Nicholas’s father was finally finishing up his PhD. They wanted to be closer to home, at least for a little while. They excitedly moved back to California on December 1st 1979. Except this time they started new, in a new house and a new town. Fair Oaks, California was going to be Nicholas’s home for the majority of his childhood and teenage life. Here is where he attended elementary school as a young boy.
�5�When Nicholas was young his hobbies were not much different from average. Growing up in lower to middle class he made his fun himself and with friends. He enjoyed riding bikes, exploring in the woods nearby and also playing games with other kids his age in his neighborhood. He had just an average childhood. But, in high school Nicholas excelled in many things. Once he turned fourteen he had shown everyone around him that he had a very bright future and could do just about anything if he put his mind to it. He had never received a grade lower than an A once he hit fourteen and managed to become the valedictorian. Also, track was a big thing to Nicholas. He ran for his high school breaking many records, setting new high standards and also received a full scholarship to Notre Dame to run track and field. In addition to all his effort in track and school, he also worked at a local restaurant about thirty hours a week. Life was busy for Nicholas and although stressful at times, he had liked it and enjoyed it.
�5�Nicholas freshman year at the University of Notre Dame, he was injured. He had pulled his Achilles tendon and for those three months couldn’t run or do much of anything. During that time Nicholas was dumbfounded and just moped around. One day his mother, tired of seeing him so depressed told him to do something and she suggested for him to write a book, not really thinking that that was exactly what he was going to do and become a best selling author. Eight weeks after his mothers suggestion and a lot of hard work and time put into it, Nicholas’s first novel was completed, “The Passing.” As he went through college he had a good time, football games, and friends and graduated with honors and a degree in business finance. On spring break in Florida, Nicholas meant his future wife, Cathy. He thought it was love at first sight. They got married in July 1989. Six weeks after there wedding, Nicholas’s mother died. Although, dealing with this hardship easier then his father they both moved on slowly but surly. Nicholas continued writing books, he wrote the notebook as his last chance of being a serious author. He didn’t realize how successful it would soon become, being sold to Warner brothers for a million dollars. Once again with tremendous ups there must be downs also. In September of 1996, Nicholas’s father had died at the age of 54 in a car accident. Although faced with another hard event he moved forward and decided dwelling on it wasn’t going to do any good. He had continued to write incredible “best selling” books and turning them into actual movies. Things were going well for Nicholas, an amazing family and a good career. Still he continues to amaze us with his original and popular writing styles and im sure we will see more of Nicholas Sparks.
�5�Nicholas was born in his home state of Omaha, Nebraska, on New Year's Eve, eighty minutes to the year of 1966. His father was Patrick Michael Sparks, a professor, and Jill Emma Marie Sparks his mother was a homemaker and optometrist's assistant. Nicholas was the middle child, with an older brother Michael Earl Sparks (1964- ) and a younger sister, Danielle Sparks (1966-2000), who died at the age of 34. Nicholas, Michael and Danielle were born Roman Catholic and of the German, English and Irish ancestry. While Nicholas’s father resided in school to get his masters at the University of Minnesota, his family moved with him. They lived there by his side for two years. Nicholas can only remember very little, since he was so young at the time. But after Nicholas’s father, Patrick had been accepted to go to University of Southern California to earn his PhD in 1969, the whole family picked up and left there small town to head to Los Angeles. They all lived there comfortably giving Patrick as much support as he needed. Four years later, Nicholas, Jill, Danielle and Michael went to Grand Island, Nebraska to live for a year while Nicholas’s father was finally finishing up his PhD. They wanted to be closer to home, at least for a little while. They excitedly moved back to California on December 1st 1979. Except this time they started new, in a new house and a new town. Fair Oaks, California was going to be Nicholas’s home for the majority of his childhood and teenage life. Here is where he attended elementary school as a young boy.
�5�When Nicholas was young his hobbies were not much different from average. Growing up in lower to middle class he made his fun himself and with friends. He enjoyed riding bikes, exploring in the woods nearby and also playing games with other kids his age in his neighborhood. He had just an average childhood. But, in high school Nicholas excelled in many things. Once he turned fourteen he had shown everyone around him that he had a very bright future and could do just about anything if he put his mind to it. He had never received a grade lower than an A once he hit fourteen and managed to become the valedictorian. Also, track was a big thing to Nicholas. He ran for his high school breaking many records, setting new high standards and also received a full scholarship to Notre Dame to run track and field. In addition to all his effort in track and school, he also worked at a local restaurant about thirty hours a week. Life was busy for Nicholas and although stressful at times, he had liked it and enjoyed it.
�5�Nicholas freshman year at the University of Notre Dame, he was injured. He had pulled his Achilles tendon and for those three months couldn’t run or do much of anything. During that time Nicholas was dumbfounded and just moped around. One day his mother, tired of seeing him so depressed told him to do something and she suggested for him to write a book, not really thinking that that was exactly what he was going to do and become a best selling author. Eight weeks after his mothers suggestion and a lot of hard work and time put into it, Nicholas’s first novel was completed, “The Passing.” As he went through college he had a good time, football games, and friends and graduated with honors and a degree in business finance. On spring break in Florida, Nicholas meant his future wife, Cathy. He thought it was love at first sight. They got married in July 1989. Six weeks after there wedding, Nicholas’s mother died. Although, dealing with this hardship easier then his father they both moved on slowly but surly. Nicholas continued writing books, he wrote the notebook as his last chance of being a serious author. He didn’t realize how successful it would soon become, being sold to Warner brothers for a million dollars. Once again with tremendous ups there must be downs also. In September of 1996, Nicholas’s father had died at the age of 54 in a car accident. Although faced with another hard event he moved forward and decided dwelling on it wasn’t going to do any good. He had continued to write incredible “best selling” books and turning them into actual movies. Things were going well for Nicholas, an amazing family and a good career. Still he continues to amaze us with his original and popular writing styles and im sure we will see more of Nicholas Sparks.
WORKS CITED:
1)"Barnes." Barnes. Web. 22 Feb. 2010. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/writers/writerdetails.asp?cid=977379.
2) "Buy Books by Nicholas Sparks - Bibliography and List of Works." Biblio.com Search Used Books, Textbooks, Rare Books, & Out of Print Books from Independent Booksellers. Web. 22 Feb. 2010. http://www.biblio.com/author_biographies/2786530/Nicholas_Sparks.html.
3) "Nicholas Sparks on Nicholas Sparks." Nicholas Sparks. Web. 23 Feb. 2010. http://www.nicholassparks.com/AboutNicholas.asp?PageID=1.
4) "Nicholas Sparks." Share Book Recommendations With Your Friends, Join Book Clubs, Answer Trivia. Web. 23 Feb. 2010. http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2345.Nicholas_Sparks.5) "Nicholas Sparks (I)." The Internet Database (IMDb). Web. 22 Feb. 2010. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0817023/.