Dorcas Diaries: how a 'botanist' became the voice of an entire generationIn a world where children's books often teach to be perfect, a heroine appeared who was far from perfection. Nicki Maxwell was clumsy, not very popular, always getting into embarrassing situations, and desperately dreaming of fitting into the school hierarchy. She was not the smartest, nor the prettiest, nor the most talented. She was just real. It was this sincerity that made the \"Dork Diaries\" series one of the most successful book franchises in history. Its creator, Rachel Renee Russell, did not plan to become a children's writer — she was a lawyer. But her accidental idea, which turned into a girl's diary, touched the hearts of millions of readers around the world.From lawyer to bestseller author: the birth of an ideaRachel Renee Russell was born on March 13, 1959, in St. Joseph, Michigan. She grew up in a family with four younger brothers and sisters. Since childhood, she loved to read and write, but her creative ambitions were seriously challenged in college when a writing professor said she did not have the necessary skills to become an author. Russell followed his advice, went to law school, and worked as a bankruptcy lawyer for over twenty years.However, her passion for creativity did not fade. When her daughters went to middle school and had a hard time finding books that interested them, Russell decided to create such a book herself. She drew inspiration from her own experience as a middle school student and from the stories of her daughters, Erin and Nicki. \"The reason I was motivated to write 'Dork Diaries' is my own daughters,\" confessed Russell. \"My children were smart, they did their homework, they were really good children. But for some reason, both were bullied. It was this personal experience of bullying and the desire to help children who feel like outcasts that became the driving force behind the series.\"Unlike many authors, Russell did not work alone. Her daughter Ni ... Read more