Veronica Roth became a literary star in 2010, with her fantasy and dystopian novels later adapted into successful Hollywood films. In her works, Veronica reflects her close relationships by shaping characters based on people around her, addressing inner fears and struggles, reports chicago1.one.
Childhood and Youth
Veronica Roth was born in 1988 to Edgar, a German immigrant, and Barbara Riedt, a Polish artist. She was the youngest of three children. When Veronica was five, her parents divorced, and her mother later remarried business consultant Frank Ross.
At age 11, Veronica penned her first story, though her literary ambitions hadn’t fully taken root. It was only in her senior year that her interest in writing became serious after a teacher encouraged her to write an essay for her college application.
Roth began writing her debut novel, Chosen, while studying psychology at Carleton College. A year later, she transferred to Northwestern University in Illinois for two reasons: to be closer to her family and to pursue her interest in creative writing, as Northwestern offered a fiction writing program.
During her first winter break at Northwestern, she devoted 10 hours a day for two months to finishing the book that would soon catapult her to fame. Even before graduating, she signed a lucrative contract to publish her work, and just six months later, she received an offer to adapt Divergent for film, which she accepted.
Iconic Books
In her debut novel, Divergent, the main character Beatrice turns 16 and, like everyone else in the post-apocalyptic world of Chicago, must take an aptitude test to determine if she should stay in her birth faction, Dauntless, or join another. However, Beatrice faces a complication—she’s divergent, with multiple aptitudes, a trait the ruling powers fear and struggle to control.
The novel explores the idea that people can be in conflict with each other or even with themselves. The character of Beatrice’s mother was inspired by Roth’s own mother. The novel was well-received by readers and critics and quickly became an American bestseller in 2013-2014. In 2014, a film adaptation of the book was released, titled Divergent.
With her novel Carve the Mark, Veronica introduced a new duology set in a solar system where a boy and a girl from warring planets fight for their love.
Interesting Facts
- In 2011, Veronica married photographer Nelson Fitch. She believes friendship is the foundation of love and considers it the most important aspect of any relationship.
- Roth has several fears, including heights, flocks of birds, high speeds, and making mistakes. Despite these phobias, she would still choose to join the Dauntless faction, as she favors wearing black and believes that courage and bravery are essential to helping others.
- Veronica has many hobbies, from cooking to keeping up with fashion, and her favorite designer is Jennifer Meyer. Despite her busy schedule, she finds time for both her husband and her writing.
- Her social media pages are mostly filled with book cover photos and personal portraits, taken professionally by her husband.
Veronica Roth’s story demonstrates her success in both her career and personal life. Her literary achievements and the fulfillment of her personal dreams have earned her admiration worldwide.