When and why did Jan Brett Become an author?

Jan Brett didn't start out as an author. She began her career as an illustrator in 1978. She illustrated her first children's book, "The Animals of Farthing Wood" in 1979.

It wasn't until 1989 that she wrote and illustrated her first book, "The Mitten", which became a huge success.

Here's why Jan Brett became an author:

* Passion for Storytelling: She always enjoyed creating stories and characters, and the natural progression was to combine her artistic talent with storytelling.

* Desire for Creative Control: As an illustrator, she had to interpret other authors' stories. By writing her own books, she had complete creative control over every aspect of the project.

* Inspiration from Her Travels: Her travels around the world, particularly in Scandinavia and Russia, provided inspiration for her unique characters and settings.

So, while she started as an illustrator, her passion for storytelling, desire for creative control, and inspiration from her travels led Jan Brett to become a successful author-illustrator.