Sara Gruen

Sara Gruen (1969 in Vancouver) is an author with dual Canadian and American citizenship. Her books deal greatly with animals and she is a supporter of numerous charitable organizations that support animals and wildlife. 2Early life and education Gruen was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. She grew up in London, Ontario, and attended Carleton University in Ottawa to get a degree in English Literature. She continued to live in Ottawa for 10 years after graduation. 2Writing career Gruen moved to the United States from Ottawa in 1999 in order to take a technical writing job. When she was laid off two years later, she decided to try writing fiction. Gruen is an animal lover; both her first novel, Riding Lessons, and her second novel, Flying Changes, involve horses. Gruen's third book, the 1930s circus drama Water for Elephants, was initially turned down by her publisher at the time, Avon Books, forcing Gruen to find another publisher. It went on to become a New York Times bestseller and is now available in 45 languages and as a 2011 film adaptation starring Reese Witherspoon, Christoph Waltz, and Robert Pattinso