1970- Chef Samuelsson, Marcus, photograph. Adam Rountree/Bloomberg News/Landov. Celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson and the New York City restaurant he co-owns, Aquavit, have each done their share to make Swedish cuisine one of the hot new culinary trends of the early twenty-first century. Born in Ethiopia but raised in Sweden, Samuelsson took over the executive chef's post at the Manhattan la…
Surname is pronounced "San-Soo-see"; born 1946, in San Francisco, CA; Education: St. Mary's College, B.A., 1968; California State University at Hayward, graduate study, 1968-70. Hobbies and other interests: Travel, collecting old children's books. Office—2261 Market St., Suite 503, San Francisco, CA 94114. Agent—Barbara S. Kouts, Literary Agent, P.O. Box 5…
1934— Poet, playwright, activist, educator, lecturer In her poetry, Sonia Sanchez has urged black unity and action against white oppression in addition to writing about violence in the black community, the relationships between black men and women, familial ties, and social problems. She is the foremost poet to use urban black English in written form. She also advocated the inclusion of bla…
Born 1957, in Mexico City, Mexico; immigrated to the United States, 1962. Education: Virginia Tech University, B.A., 1978; Old Dominion University, M.S. Ed., 1985. Agent—Miriam Altshuler, 53 Old Post Road N., Red Hook, New York, NY 12571. Writer. Previously worked as a Web site manager, organizational development consultant, juvenile probation officer, family counselor, scuba instructor, p…
Loretta Sanchez: 1960—: U.S. representative. An icon of the growing involvement in politics on the part of Hispanic Americans at the turn of the millennium, Loretta Sanchez is also very much an individualist who has stuck to her own beliefs even when they did not seem expedient. Sanchez came out of political obscurity to defeat an entrenched Anglo-American congressman in the 1996 nation…
Born 1947, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada; Ethnicity: "Scottish." Education: University of Saskatchewan, B.A., 1967, Dip.Ed., 1969; University of Victoria, M.A., 1985. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Orca Book Publishers Ltd., P.O. Box 5626, Station B, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8R 6S4. Writer and school councillor. Victoria School District, Victoria, British Columbia, Ca…
1968- Professional football player Barry Sanders was one of the greatest football players of the 1990s and perhaps of all time. Although he always described himself as an "average person," Barry Sanders' accomplishments playing football are truly extraordinary. In his three years at Oklahoma State University, Sanders broke or tied 24 NCAA records on his way to winning college …
1973— Political activist The civil rights movement of the 1960s spawned great social changes and the emergence of a large group of African-American political leaders, put in power as a direct result of newly safeguarded black participation in the electoral process. For many years, though, no new generation of activists materialized to take the place of the heroic figures who initiated the c…
Born 1942, in Watertown, WI; reEducation: University of Arizona, B.F.A., 1964. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Books for Young Readers, Henry Holt and Company, 115 West 15th St., New York, NY 10011. Illustrator, author, and translator of children's books. Exhibitions: Solo shows in Sweden and the United States featuring illustrations from The Long Way to a New Land. Art represented in the Ker…
wife's name, Carol. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Oxford University Press, 198 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016. Writer, educator, and producer of television programs. University of Massachusetts and Smith College, Amherst, MA, taught American history and history of photography; has also taught American studies in junior high and high schools. Boston Globe/Horn Book Award, for The Story of …
Arturo Sandoval: 1949—: Jazz trumpeter. Described respectively by reviewers in Billboard as "pushing the limits of his instrument," in The All Music Guide as "technically flawless," and in the Baltimore Sun as "a powerhouse," jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval ranked among Cuba's most exciting musical exports of the late twentieth century. As…
1917-2004 Actress Sanford, Isabel, photograph. EPA/Landov. Best known for her portrayal of Louise Jefferson—Weezy—on the hit television situation comedy The Jeffersons, Isabel Sanford became the first black woman to win an Emmy award for best actress in a comedy series. Sanford's acting career included stage and film, as well as television stardom. In her early life as a young…
Irma Vidal Santaella championed Puerto Rican and other minority rights in New York for over thirty years. In 1961 she became the first Puerto Rican woman admitted to the New York State Bar, and in 1983 she became the first Puerto Rican woman to be elected to the New York Supreme Court. She helped found the Hispanic Community Chest of America, the National Federation of Puerto Rican Women, and the …
Carlos Santana: 1947—: Rock guitarist. One of the great musical boundary crossers of the twentieth century, Mexican-American guitarist Carlos Santana was a central figure in the growth of rock music as a serious art form in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Santana blended rock and blues guitar styles with Latin rhythms, and later experimental jazz influences, to create a compelling hybri…
George Santayana: 1863-1952: Philosopher. The Spanish-born American philosopher George Santayana is popularly known for a single sentence that has entered the stock arsenal of American political rhetoric: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it," Santayana wrote in his 1905 book Reason in Common Sense. Students of Santayana's work complain that the …
Cristina Saralegui: 1948—: Journalist, talk show host, publisher, author. Cuba native Cristina Saralegui has achieved the American dream with a little bit of clout and a whole lot of perseverance. She was the first and in 2002 only Latin woman to create a media empire that included a number-one talk show, a widely circulated magazine, a successful radio show, and her own production comp…
Eligio Sardiñas: 1910-1988: Boxer. Cuban boxer Eligio "Kid Chocolate" Sardiñas was the first Cuban world champion in the history of boxing. From the late 1920s to the late 1930s, he was one of the most popular fighters in New York. He was noted for his speed and his fast punches. Sardiñas was born in Havana, Cuba, on January 6, 1910, and first began fighting …
Born 1947; Education: Temple University, B.A., 1969, M.A., 1972; Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, ordained rabbi, 1974; Christian Theological Seminary, Doctor of Ministry, 1996. Religion: Jewish. Office—Congregation Beth-El Zedeck, 600 West 70th St., Indianapolis, IN 46260. Manhattan Reconstructionist Havurah, New York, NY, rabbi, 1974–77; Congregation Beth-El Zedeck, Indianapo…
Born 1944, in Charlotte, NC; Education: Attended George Washington University and Boston University. Politics: Democrat. office—Je Bouquine/Bayard Presse, 3, Rue Bayard, 75008 Paris, France. Author and translator. Je Bouquine, France, former editor. The Way Home (short stories), illustrated by Miles Hyman, Farrar, Straus & Giroux (New York, NY), 1994. (Adaptor and translator) Ingrid…
Born 1952, in Pittsburgh, PA; Education: Kent State University, B.S., M.A., 1977; Youngstown State University, M.S., 1980; University of Akron, Ph.D., 1994. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Red Brick Press, c/o Capstone Press, 151 Good Counsel Dr., P.O. Box 669, Mankato, MN 56002. Educator and writer. Elementary school teacher in Ohio, for ten years; Summit County Board of Education, Akron, OH, curr…
Born 1950, in Postmasburg, South Africa; Education: Attended Michaelis School of Art, University of Cape Town; Royal Society of Arts (London, England), teaching diploma. Politics: "Left of center/humanistic/pacifist, strong anti-apartheid history." Religion: "Jewish background, Buddhist leanings." Children's book author and illustrator. Has worked variously as a …
Nationality: American. Born: Salt Lake City, Utah, 1915. Education: Colby College, B.A. 1940, M.A. 1955. Career: Faculty member, Suffolk University, Boston, 1947-48; assistant professor, Brandeis University, 1949-55. Awards: Guggenheim fellowship, 1980; Northwest Booksellers award, 1989. Agent: Blanche Gregory, 2 Tudor City Place, New York, New York 10017, U.S.A. Mrs. Bridge, by Evan S. Connell, i…
Born 1960, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Education: Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, B.A.A., 1982. Politics: Liberal. Hobbies and other interests: Reading. Agent—Ralph M. Vicinanza Ltd., 303 West 18th St., New York, NY 10011. Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (Canadian regional director, 1992-95, president, 1998), Crime Writers of Canada, Writers Union of Canada (membership comm…
Born 1937, in Yokohama, Japan; immigrated to the United States c. 1953; Education: Studied at Aoyama Gakuin (Tokyo, Japan), Chouinard Art Institute, Los Angeles Art Center School, University of California, Berkeley, and San Francisco Art Institute. Hobbies and other interests: Fly-fishing. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Houghton Mifflin, 222 Berkeley St., Boston, MA 02116-3764. EIZO Press, Berkeley…
Born 1956, in Brooklyn, NY; Education: Attended Philadelphia College of Art (now University of the Arts), 1974-77, and School of Visual Arts (New York, NY). Religion: Jewish. Agent—Cornell and McCarthy, LLC, 2-D Cross Highway, Westport, CT 06880. Children's book illustrator. Graphic artist with design studio in New York, NY; School of Visual Arts, New York, NY, adjunct professor of …
1984(?)— Ceremonial guard England's Janna Scantlebury became the first black woman to serve in an elite mounted regiment attached to the royal household. As a member of the King's Troop of the Royal Horse Artillery, Scantlebury participates in the lavish, colorful pageants such as the Trooping of the Colours every June in honor of Queen Elizabeth II's birthday. The Lond…
1971— Singer Her voice has been called sublime, radiant, commanding, and quite simply, beautiful. In operas, jazz concerts, and show-stopping recitals, Millicent Scarlett has sung her way into a resounding career. "I love singing very dearly," she told The Diamondback, the student paper of the University of Maryland. "I hope the love of what I'm doing shows throu…
Nationality: American. Born: Brooklyn, New York, 1941. Education: Simmons College, Boston; University of Chicago, 1958-66, B.A. 1961, M.A. 1963, Ph.D. 1966. Career: Instructor in English, Wright Junior College, Chicago, 1964-65; instructor, 1965-66, and assistant professor of English, 1966-67, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago. Assistant Professor, 1967-71, associate professor, 1972-74, si…
Born 1931, in New York, NY; daughter of Walter Edmund Grush (a jeweler) and Marguerite Martin Gloria G. Schlaepfer Kolander (a bank clerk); Education: Douglass College, Rutgers University, B.A. (zoology/microbiology), 1954; California State University, Fullerton, M.S. (environmental studies), 1985. Politics: Democrat. Religion: Christian. Hobbies and other interests: Photography, bird watchin…
See index for SATA sketch: Born June 6, 1926, in New York, NY; died of vasculitis November 23, 2004, in New York, NY. Author. Schlein was a prolific author of children's books and was best known for her ability to teach young readers about animals, science, and other topics in an entertaining way. She earned a B.A. in psychology from Brooklyn College in 1947 before embarking on a variety of…
(Dr. Laura) Born 1947, in Brooklyn, NY; Education: State University of New York—Stonybrook, B.S. (biological sciences); Columbia University, M.S., M. Phil., and Ph.D. (physiology), 1974; University of Southern California, postdoctoral certificate in marriage, family, and child counseling, 1980. Religion: Jewish. Hobbies and other interests: Hapkido karate (earned black belt, 1992), machine …
1949— Mayor, lawyer Schmoke, Kurt, photograph. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission. Kurt L. Schmoke made history in 1987 when he became the first black man elected mayor of Baltimore, Maryland. At that time he was considered a rising star in American politics, with some mentioning him as a potential Senate or even vice-presidential candidate. The promise of his early caree…
OBITUARY NOTICE—See index for SATA sketch: Born May 31, 1905, in Kreschov, Poland; died July 31, 2003, in Boston, MA. Educator and author. Schneider is best remembered as the author of dozens of science books for children and teenagers. After immigrating with his family to America from Poland, he was educated at the Free Academy (now City College of the City University of New York), where h…
Born 1954, in Mindelheim im Allgau, Germany. Education: College graduate. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Aufbau Verlag, Postfach 193, 10105 Berlin, Germany. Writer and former teacher in Germany. Prix Chronos (France), 1999; National Parenting Publications Award, 1999, 2000. Schatzsuche und Finderglück, illustrated by Nathalie Duroussy, Findling, 1995, translated as Treasure Hunt, 1995. Ich b…
Surname is pronounced "shole"; born 1951, in New York, NY; Education: Castleton State College, B.A., 1973. Hobbies and other interests: Opera, classical music, film, theater. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Morgan Reynolds Publishing, 620 South Elm St., Ste. 223, Greensboro, NC 27406. Writer. Stay out of the Shower: Twenty-five Years of Shocker Films Beginning with "Psycho,�…
Born 1952, in Batavia, NY; Education: Kent State University, B.F.A., 1974. Politics: Democrat. Children's book author and illustrator. Has also worked as a freelance graphic designer and botanical illustrator, 1976–. Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Authors Guild, Authors League, Guild of Natural Science Illustrators. Parents magazine Best Children's…
Born 0087.jpg" gale:type="photo" gale:orient="portrait" height="318" alt="Roni Schotter" width="242" /> Roni Schotter Jesse. Education: Attended Carnegie Mellon University; New York University, B.A. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Houghton Mifflin Children's Books, 8th Fl., 222 Berkeley St., Boston, MA 02116-3764. Former editor with publishing houses; has taught writing at Queens College,…
Born 1960, in Elmhurst, IL; Education: Sierra College, A.A., 1980; University of California, Davis, B.A., 1983. Illustrator. Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Graphic Artists Guild, Phi Kappa Phi. The Moon Comes Home was included on the John Burroughs List of Nature Books for Young Readers, 1990. (And illustrator) Somewhere in the World Right Now, Knopf (New York, NY), 19…
Nationality: American. Born: New York City, 1914; son of the Hollywood film pioneer, B.P. Schulberg. Education: Los Angeles High School, 1928-31; Deerfield Academy, 1931-32; Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, 1932-36, A.B. (cum laude) 1936 (Phi Beta Kappa). Military Service: Served in the United States Navy, 1943-46: Lieutenant. Career: Screenwriter, Hollywood, 1936-39; in charge of photog…
1931-1967 Classical pianist, writer One of the most unusual and perhaps most tragic figures in American cultural history, Philippa Schuyler gained national acclaim as a child prodigy on the piano. Her picture graced the covers of weekly news magazines, and she was hailed as a young American Mozart. Schuyler's life during adulthood, however, was a difficult one. She struggled with racial dis…
Born 1951, in Boulder, CO; Education: Attended University of Colorado, 1969–72; California Institute of the Arts, B.F. A., 1975. Agent—Maggie Byer-Sprinzeles, 5800 Arlington Ave., No. 16-E, Riverdale, NY 10471. Author and illustrator of children's books, 1973–. Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Honor Book, American Library Association, 2006, for Amanda Pig and the Really Hot D…
Last name rhymes with "Fresca"; born 1954, in Flint, MI; Education: Attended Culver Military Academy; Albion College, B.A., 1976; Columbia University, M.F.A., 1980. Hobbies and other interests: "Many." Agent—c/o Author Mail, Viking Penguin, 375 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014-3658. Writer. Previously worked at Manhattan Day School, New York, NY, elementary school…
1956— Entrepreneur, executive Milton Scott's appointments in corporate America have few parallels. As the first African American to become a partner in the audit practice at the international accounting firm of Arthur Andersen he influenced multi-million dollar deals and made important decisions that affected large segments of the telecommunications, technology and energy arenas at a…
Born 1940, in Philadelphia, PA; Education: Attended Southern Methodist University, 1957–59, 1979–81, and University of Houston, 1979–81. Religion: Methodist. Hobbies and other interests: Reading, traveling, sailing, teaching. Agent—Susan Cohen, Writer's House, 21 W. 26th St., New York, NY 10010. Writer, 1975–. Teacher of workshops for Texas Conference of …
Nationality: Australian-New Zealander. Born: Wellington, New Zealand, 1948 (has dual Australian and New Zealand citizenship). Education: Degrees in English and drama; M.A. in English. Career: Worked variously as waitress, fruit-picker, and script editor, as well as in social work, acting, publishing, and newspaper work. Lives in Sydney, Australia. Awards: Bruce Mason Sunday Times award. Rosie Scot…
1929–2005 Gospel singer Scott, George, photograph. © 2003 Jack Vartoogian/FrontRow-Photos. Reproduced by permission. A founding member of the legendary gospel vocal group the Blind Boys of Alabama, George Scott was known for his rich and powerful baritone and his jubilee singing style. As the Blind Boys walked on stage, each with his arm on the shoulder of the man in front, Scott app…
1925— Jazz and rhythm-and-blues singer A jazz and rhythm-and-blues (R&B) singer with a distinctive high-pitched voice, Jimmy Scott is admired by singing stars as diverse as Madonna and Lou Reed. His heyday was the 1950s and 1960s, when he was known among jazz fans as a vocalist with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra, and his most acclaimed album is 1962's Falling in Love Is Wonderf…
Born 1957, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Education: Attended University of Toronto. Politics: "No." Religion: "Yes." Agent—Scott Treimel, 454 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10003-6918/ Writer, 1996–. Worked as waiter and maitre d', 1987–96; Humber College, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, teacher at Humber School for Writers, 1998–, and member o…
Born 1959, in Boise, ID; father a salesman, mother's name Sarah Anne (an artist); Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: Attended San Francisco Art Institute, 1980-81; California College of Arts and Crafts, B.F.A. (illustration; highest honors), 1990. Hobbies and other interests: Tennis, poetry slams, story telling. Artist and educator. Illustrator, 1989—; art instructor at…
Born 1941, in Florida; Education: Newcomb College of Tulane University, B.A., 1963. Hobbies and other interests: Traveling, gardening, painting. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Dutton, 345 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014. Freelance writer. High school teacher of history in Fitzgerald, GA, 1967-68; substitute teacher in schools in New York and Maryland, 1968-70; Jayland Nursery School, Governor…
1805-1881 Crimean war nurse, writer Seacole, Mary, photograph. National Portrait Gallery/Getty Images. Jamaican-born Mary Seacole served as a nurse in the Crimean War (1853-56), establishing the "British Hotel" for soldiers recovering from injuries and illness in the Crimean port city of Balaclava. Because of her color, Seacole was refused by the British war office when she as…
1942–2004 Blues musician An icon of the Chicago blues, Son Seals was known for his intense and innovative guitar playing and his grainy singing. Seals brought the musical traditions of Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Howlin' Wolf to a new generation of blues guitarists and fans, at a time when the music seemed to be dying out. An energetic performer, Seals took his hard elect…
Nationality: Indian. Born: Allahabad, India, 1951. Education: La Martiniere College; Delhi University, B.A. (with honors) in English 1971; Western Michigan University, B.A. (with honors) in English 1972, M.A. 1974. Career: Writer. Award: Commonwealth Writers' prize for best first book, 1989, for The Trotter-Nama. Agent: A.P. Watt, 20 John St., London WC1N 2DR, England. Although I. Allan Se…
1964- Sociology professor Sears, Stephanie, photograph. Photo by Anthony R. Baker. Courtesy of Stephanie Sears. Dr. Stephanie Sears, Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of San Francisco, received a Ph.D. from Yale University in 2004 for her research and study of sociology and African-American studies. Seeking to better the lives of youth through her work, Sears' research expl…
Born 1968, in England; children: Alice. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Orion House, 5 Upper Saint Martin's Lane, London WC2H 9EA, England. Writer, beginning 1994. Stone carver and wood engraver. Formerly worked as a bookseller, Heffers children's bookshop, Cambridge, England; Ragged Bears children's book publisher, Somerset, England, sales manager; Templar Publishing, Dorking, …
Pseudonym: Monica Highland (with Lisa See and John Espey). Nationality: American. Born: Carolyn Penelope Laws, Pasadena, California, 1934. Education: Los Angeles City College, A.A.; California State University, Los Angeles, M.A., Ph.D. Career: Waitress, 1950s; teaching assistant, 1960s; professor of English, Loyola Marymount University, 1970-85; visiting professor of English, 1986-89, and adjunct …
Born 1928, in Vienna, Austria; Education: Bedford College, London, B.A. (with honors), 1948. Religion: Jewish. Agent—c/o Lynn Nesbit, ICM, 40 West 57th St., New York, NY 10019. Writer. Teacher in Dominican Republic, 1948-51; Columbia University, New York, NY, professor of creative writing, 1969-78; University of Illinois at Chicago Circle, Chicago, professor of English, beginning 1978; Ohio…
First initial and second name are pronounced together as "Jah-toh"; born 1960, in Oakland, CA; Education: Attended San Francisco State University, 1984-85. Politics: "All politics is local." Religion: "All religion is local." Hobbies and other interests: Photography. Office—1261 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94103. Clorox Corporation, Pleasanton, C…
Born 1952, in Littleton, NH; Education: Stanford University, B.A., 1972. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, New York, NY, freelance contributor to language arts program, 1976-78; freelance writer, 1978—. The Dulcimer Boy, illustrated by David Hockney, Viking (New York, NY), 1979, illustrated by Brian Selznick, Laura Geringer Books (New York, NY), 2003. Terpin, Farrar, Straus & Giroux (New York, NY)…
1930–1997 President Mobutu Sese Seko ruled Zaire, the former Belgian Congo that he renamed in 1971, from 1965 when he assumed power with a military coup and established the Second Republic to just months before his death in 1997. His regime was been characterized as repressive, and his critics described him in terms of his drive for power, his compulsion for personalization, and his hunger …
Nationality: American. Born: Brooklyn, New York, 1928. Educated in New York City public schools, including Peter Stuyvesant High School. Military Service: Served in the United States Merchant Marine, 1944-46. Career: Hospital patient, with tuberculosis, 1946-50; held various jobs, including seaman and insurance clerk, 1950-64. Lives in Los Angeles. Member: Writer's Guild of America, and Aut…
Selena: 1971-1995: Vocalist. The violent death of beloved Tejano vocalist Selena on March 31, 1995, brought to an end more than just a promising musical career. Selena had become an icon in the Hispanic community, a beloved figure to whom Mexican-Americans attached their aspirations and their feelings about their cultural identities. Among them, her murder evoked an outpouring of grief compara…
Nationality: British. Born: London. Awards: Geoffrey Faber Memorial prize, 1993, for The Quantity Theory of Insanity. Will Self is a satirist on the order of Swift and Voltaire writing in the England of Malcolm Bradbury, David Lodge, and Martin Amis. Drawing on his experience as a heroin addict, a philosophy student at Oxford, and a cartoonist, he has crafted a style perfectly suited to his time a…
Nationality: Sri Lankan (Ceylonese)-Canadian. Born: Colombo, Sri Lanka, 1963; immigrated to Canada, 1984. Education: York University, Toronto, B.F.A. Career: Novelist, essayist, and writer for television. Awards: Smithbooks/Books in Canada First Novel Award, 1997; Lambda Literary Award for gay men's fiction (Lambda Literary Foundation), 1997. Agent: William Morrow & Company, Inc., 13…
Born 1940, in Worcestershire, England; Education: Shrewsbury College of Art, degree in printmaking and design, 1962. Hobbies and other interests: Travel in Europe, watercolors, sailing, hillwalking. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Hutchinson Books, Random House UK, 20 Vauxhall Bridge Rd., London SW1V 2SA, England. Author and illustrator. Stylist for still photographer in London, England, 1963–…
(Maurice Bernard Sendak) Born 1928, in Brooklyn, NY; Education: Attended Art Students' League, New York, NY, 1949–51. Agent—c/o Author Mail, HarperCollins, 10 E. 53rd St., 7th Fl., New York, NY 10022. Writer and illustrator of children's books, 1951–. All American Comics, part-time artist, c. mid-1940s; Timely Service (window display house), New York, NY, window …
Ayrton Senna: 1960-1994: Race car driver. Brazilian race car driver Ayrton Senna was a famous professional race car driver and sportsman at the time of his death in a racing crash in 1994. After an outstanding career on the kart racing circuit, Senna was a three-time champion of the elite Formula One (F1) series. In his brief but spectacular career, Senna proved he was arguably "the mo…
Lupe Serrano: 1930—: Ballerina. In a career that has spanned more than half a century, ballerina Lupe Serrano has enjoyed a life studded with moments worthy of red rose-showered standing ovations. By the sheer power of her will, she rose from a second-rate dance school in Chile to become the first Hispanic principal dancer at the prestigious American Ballet Theatre. She has toured with …
Nationality: Indian. Born: Calcutta, India, 1952. Education: Doon School, India; Corups Christi College, Oxford, B.A. 1975; Stanford University, M.A. in economics 1979; Nanjing University, 1982. Career: Senior editor, Stanford University Press, 1985-86. Awards: Thomas Cook travel book award, 1983, for From Heaven Lake; Ingram Merrill fellowship, 1985-86; Commonwealth poetry prize, 1986; Guggenheim…
Nationality: American. Born: Charleston, West Virginia, 1918. Education: Sweet Briar College, 1936-38. Military Service: Women's Auxiliary, R.A.F., 1942-43. Career: Editor, Harper's Bazaar, 1945; English correspondant, Flair, 1950-51; associate professor, Bard College, New York, 1956-76. Visiting lecturer, University of Virginia, 1978. Awards: Guggenheim fellow, 1958, 1960; Merrill F…
Given name pronounced "Trace"; born 1966, in Glasgow, KY; Education: Southern Methodist University, B.A. (English and journalism), 1989; University of Kentucky, M.S.L.S., 1991; attended University of Tennessee, beginning 1993. Hobbies and other interests: Reading, watching science-fiction television shows, fencing, hiking, travel, playing music (dulcimer, banjo, fife, bodhran, Celtic…
Nationality: American. Born: New Brunswick, New Jersey (son of well-known author Michael Shaara), 1952. Education: Florida State University, degree in criminology, 1974. Family: Wife's name is Lynne. Career: Founder of rare coin business at age sixteen, eventually incorporated as Florida Coin Exchange, a retail business, sold company in 1988; became full-time writer. Divides his time betwe…
Nationality: New Zealander. Born: Auckland, 1932. Education: Te Kuiti High School; Avondale College; University of Auckland. Career: Journalist for various New Zealand publications, 1952-54; documentary scriptwriter and director for the New Zealand National Film Unit, 1954-57; full-time writer from 1957; lived in London and Spain, 1957-60, then returned to New Zealand. Awards: New Zealand Scholars…
Born 1952, in Barnet, Hertfordshire, England; Education: Educated in England. Hobbies and other interests: Music—listening, playing, and singing—folklore, gardening, beachcombing. Agent—Robin Wade, Robin Wade Literary Agency, 33 Cormorant Lodge, Thomas More St., London E1W 1AU, England. Writer, 1977—. Formerly worked as a secretary and a paperback blurb writer. Notable…
Born 1949, in Brooklyn, NY; Education: University of California at Berkeley, 1967-69; Brooklyn College (now Brooklyn College of the City University of New York), B.A., 1971; Manhattan-ville College, M.A., 1997. Politics: Liberal. Religion: Jewish. Hobbies and other interests: Reading, gardening, observing nature, art, music, travel. Agent—c/o Author Correspondence, Dutton Children's …
[A pseudonym] (Darren O'Shaughnessy) Born 1972, in London, England; Education: Roehampton Institute of Higher Education, B.Sc. Agent—Christopher Little, 10 Eel Brook Studios, 125 Moore Park Rd., London SW6 4PS, England. Writer. Cirque du Freak: A Living Nightmare (also see below), Collins (London, England), 2000, Little, Brown (New York, NY), 2001. The Vampire's Assistant (al…
Offıce—Department of Drama, University of Houston, University Park, 4800 Calhoun Rd., Houston, TX 77004. Actors Equity, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Dramatists Guild, PEN American Center, Academy of American Poets, Poets and Writers Inc., Women's Institute for Freedom of the Press, New York Feminist Arts Guild, Writers' Guild. Whitewash (picture boo…
Born 1951, in Los Angeles, CA; Hobbies and other interests: Reading, cooking, watching movies, "playing with my grandneedlework, "gardening with my strolling the beach. Agent—Scott Treimel, 434 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10003. Writer. Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. A young boy enthusiastically gathers all his buoyant playthings and other fav…
Born 1959, in Washington, DC; Education: Art Center College of Design, B.F.A., 1983. Hobbies and other interests: Fishing, playing guitar, playing baseball. Agent—c/o Scholastic, 557 Broadway, New York, NY, 10012. David Shannon Author and illustrator of children's books. New York Times Best Illustrated Book, 1994, for How Georgie Radbourn Saved Baseball, and 1998, for No, Davi…
Nationality: British. Born: Thomas Ridley Sharpe in London, 1928. Education: Lancing College, Sussex, 1942-46; Pembroke College, Cambridge, 1948-51, M.A.; teacher's training, Cambridge University, 1962-63, P.C.G.E. 1963. Military Service: Served in the Royal Marines, 1946-48. Career: Social worker, 1951-52, and teacher, 1952-56, Natal, South Africa; photographer, Pietermaritzburg, South Afr…
Born 1962, in London, England; Education: Saint Martin's School of Art (London, England), B.A. (with honors), 1984. Agent—c/o Candlewick Press, 2067 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140. Children's book illustrator and author. Under Fives Book Prize (3-5 nonfiction category), SHE/W.H. Smith, 1995, for Ketchup on Your Cornflakes?; Sheffield Children's Book Award, 1997…
Born 1946, in Pittsburgh, PA; Education: University of Michigan, A.B., 1968; Harvard University, M.A.T., 1970. Hobbies and other interests: Gardening. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Houghton Mifflin Co., 222 Berkeley, Boston, MA 02116. Writer and homemaker. Author of radio scripts for "Senior Sounds," University of Michigan Institute of Gerontology, Ann Arbor, 1978–81. Authors …
Nationality: American. Born: London, England, 1930; emigrated to the United States in 1940. Education: Downside Academy, Bath; Lincoln College, Oxford, B.A. 1954, M.A. 1957. Career: Film critic, 1957-61, and associate editor, 1959-66, Jubilee magazine, New York; drama critic and book editor, Commonweal magazine, New York, 1964-67; film critic, Esquire magazine, New York, 1967-69; Visiting Lecturer…
Born 1951. Office—c/o Author Mail, Heinemann-Raintree 100 North LaSalle, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL 60602. Nonfiction writer. Lebanon, Marshall Cavendish (New York, NY), 1997. Guatemala, Marshall Cavendish (New York, NY), 1998. Hong Kong: Hong Kong City Map, Fodor's (New York, NY), 1999. Beijing: Beijing City Map, Fodor's (New York, NY), 1999. Angola, Marshall Cavendish (New York…
Martin Sheen: 1940—: Actor, activist. A powerful, versatile actor, Martin Sheen is equally convincing in roles as diverse as the rebel killer in Badlands, a homophobic father in Consenting Adults, and President Kennedy in the television miniseries JFK. In his film roles Sheen has often played the loner or outsider, whereas many of his television portrayals are of historical or political…
(Scott Eller, a joint pseudonym, James R. Shepard) Born 1956, in Bridgeport, CT; Education: Trinity College (Hartford, CT), B.A., 1978; Brown University, A.M., 1980. Office—Department of English, Williams College, Williamstown, MA 01267. Educator and novelist. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, lecturer in creative writing, 1980–83; Williams College, Williamstown, MA, assistant prof…
1970– Comedian, actress Shepherd, Sherri, photograph. © Glenn Weiner/Glenn Weiner/Zuma/Corbis. When comedian Sherri Shepherd graduated from high school, her thoughts were on becoming a mortician or a secretary. Secretary won, and she spent years toiling in secretarial jobs before coming to rely on her natural talent for humor as a stand-up comedian and actress. She began appearing on…
Born in New York, NY; Education: Hunter College of the City University of New York, B.A., M.A. Office—Sherman Editorial Services, 500 E. 85th St., Suite 11F, New York, NY 10028. Writer, editor, and folklorist. Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Authors Guild, American Folklore Society, Sierra Club. Compton Crook Award…
Nationality: Canadian and American. Born: Carol Warner, Oak Park, Illinois, 1935. Education: Hanover College, Indiana, 1953-57, A.B.; University of Ottawa, 1969-75, M.A. Career: Editorial assistant, Canadian Slavonic Papers, 1972-74; faculty member, University of Ottawa, 1976-77, and University of British Columbia, 1978-79. Since 1980, faculty member, University of Manitoba; since 1996, chancellor…
Born 1957, in Wichita, KS; Education: Northwestern University, B.S., 1979. Agent—Ethan Ellenberg, 548 Broadway, No. 5-E, New York, NY 11012. Author and editor. Professional Photographer (magazine), Chicago, IL, assistant editor, 1979–83; Decor (magazine), St. Louis, MO, managing editor, 1983–2001; Biz Ed (magazine), co-editor, 2001–. William Crawford Award for best firs…
1924-2005 Singer Short, Bobby, photograph. Frank Micelotta/Getty Images. After he took up residence in the lounge of New York's elegant Hotel Carlyle in the late 1960s, vocalist and pianist Bobby Short became an icon of New York and American cultural life. Short called himself a saloon singer, but actually he roosted at the top of the hierarchy of entertainers who perform in cocktail…
Born 1947, in Hammond, IN; children: Jennifer, Katherine. Education: Indiana University, B.S., 1972, M.S., 1976. Hobbies and other interests: Travel, art. Agent—Transatlantic Literary Agency, 72 Glengowan Rd., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4N 1G4. Learning Unlimited, North Central High School, Indianapolis, IN, community programs coordinator, 1975-78; Indiana University, Bloomington, associat…
Born 1956, in Riverhead, NY; Ethnicity: "Caucasian" Education: Harvard College, A.B. Elizabeth Shreeve (geology; cum laude), 1978; Harvard Graduate School of Design, M.A. (landscape architecture), 1983. Politics: Democrat. Hobbies and other interests: Gardening, hiking, piano, art. Office—SWA Group, 2200 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965. Agent—Barbara Kouts, P.O. Bo…
Born 1939, in Toledo, OH; Education: University of Pennsylvania, B.A. (magna cum laude), 1961; University of Virginia, M.A., 1969. Office—Department of English, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030. Agent—Timothy Seldes, Russell & Volkening, Inc., 50 West 29th St., New York, NY 10001. Teacher of English in private schools in Cheshire, England, 1962-63, Rosemont, PA, 196…
Nationality: American. Born: Dedham, Massachusetts, 1946. Education: Tufts University. Career: Journalist assigned to Nairobi, Kenya, late 1970s; writer for US magazine, New York Times, and New York magazine, New York; freelance writer, 1986—; has taught at Amherst College, Massachusetts. Lives in western Massachusetts. Awards: PEN/L. L. Winship Award; New England Book Award for Fiction. An…
1925-2003 Business executive Thomas B. Shropshire was one of the first African Americans to break the color barrier in corporate America when he became a top executive at the Miller Brewing Company in the 1970s. His position was of note because he was not promoted merely to meet diversity quotas at the corporation. The Business Journal of Milwaukee wrote that Shropshire did not have "the ti…
Given name pronounced "oo-ree"; born 1935, in Warsaw, Poland; came to United States, 1959; naturalized U.S. citizen c. 1960s; Education: Teacher's College, Israel, teacher's degree, 1956; studied painting privately with Ezekiel Streichman, 1950–52; attended Tel-Aviv Art Institute, evenings, 1953–55, and Brooklyn Museum Art School, 1959–61; studied p…
See index for SATA sketch: Born September 1, 1913, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; died May 21, 2004, in London, England. Critic and author. Shulman was best known as a longtime theater, film, and television critic for the London Evening Standard. Completing a B.A. at the University of Toronto in 1934 and studying law at Osgoode Hall from 1934 to 1937, Shulman first pursued a law career as a barriste…
Born 1955, in Broken Hill, Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia); Education: Lancaster University, B.A. (honors), 1976; teacher training, Madeley College of Education. Hobbies and other interests: Gardening herbs and vegetables, cooking, spinning and weaving wool. Teacher at various schools in England, 1977-83; freelance editor and layout person, 1987—; writer, 1989—; educational advisor fo…
1922— Minister, civil rights leader The Rev. Martin Luther King and his associates, who waged the battle for civil rights on a national scale, are remembered today as the movement's leaders. Less well known, even though a statue of him stands in front of the Birmingham, Alabama, Civil Rights Institute, is the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth. But it was the Rev. Shuttlesworth who battled Birm…
Nationality: American (Pakistani exile, emigrated to United States, 1984). Born: Bapsi Bhandara, Karachi, Pakistan, 1938. Education: Kinnaird College for Women, B.A. 1956. Career: Conducted novel writing workshops, Rice University, 1984-86; assistant professor of creative writing, University of Houston, 1985. President, International Women's Club of Lahore, 1975-77. Pakistan's delega…
Born 1945, in Washington, DC; name legally changed, 1985; Education: American University, B.A., 1968; California State University—San Jose (now San Jose State University), M.A., 1973; University of California—Los Angeles, Ph.D. Puppeteer and storyteller, 1976—. Part-time librarian at Los Angeles Public Library, 1986—; teacher of children's literature and storytel…
1922— Golfer Sifford, Charlie, photograph. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission. Charlie Sifford has been called the "Jackie Robinson of golf." The first black man to break the color barrier in one of the nation's most elitist sports, Sifford endured humiliation, threats to his life and limb, and even mistreatment from some of his fellow pros. Nothing s…
Nationality: American. Born: Chicago, Illinois, 1926. Education: The University of California, Los Angeles, B.A. in English 1950. Staff Sergeant in the United States Army Infantry, 1944-46. Career: Assistant to the Wage Coordinator, United Auto Workers, Detroit, 1946-47; story analyst, Columbia Pictures, Hollywood, 1952-54; agent, Jaffe Agency, Los Angeles, 1954-56. Member, Citizens Committee to D…
1971(?)– Singer, songwriter, producer In an age when commercial success has continually trumped talent and originality, singer Siji (pronounced shee-gee) has joined a growing list of artists who are bucking the system. His breakthrough CD, God-Given (sometimes listed as God-given), combines elements of jazz, soul, and Afrobeat music to create a new sound that has mesmerized listeners global…
Nationality: American. Born: 1948. Education: Board of Indian Affairs schools, Laguna, New Mexico, and a Catholic school in Albuquerque; University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, B.A. (summa cum laude) in English 1969; studied law briefly. Career: Taught for 2 years at Navajo Community College, Tsaile, Arizona; lived in Ketchikan, Alaska, for 2 years; taught at University of New Mexico. Since 1978 pr…
Pseudonyms: Walker Chapman; Ivar Jorgenson; Calvin M. Knox; David Osborne; Robert Randall; Lee Sebastian. Nationality: American. Born: New York City, 1935. Education: Columbia University, New York, A.B. 1956. Career: Full-time writer: associate editor, Amazing, January 1969 issue, and associate editor, Fantastic, February-April 1969 issues. President, Science Fiction Writers of America, 1967-68. A…
Born 1955, in Brooklyn, NY; Education: Attended State University of New York, Albany; University of California, Los Angeles, B.A. (magna cum laude), 1982. Politics: Democrat. Religion: Jewish. Hobbies and other interests: Psychology, politics, wildlife, ecology, social history, women's basketball. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Macmillan Publishing Co., 866 3rd Ave., New York, NY 10022. Free…
Born 1953, in Glasgow, Scotland; Education: Edinburgh College of Art, graduated, 1976; attended Royal College of Art, 1980. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Piggy Toes Press, 2715 Ocean Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405. Freelance illustrator and author of children's books. Colors, Piggy Toes Press (Los Angeles, CA), 2002. Counting, Piggy Toes Press (Los Angels, CA), 2002. Shapes, Piggy Toes Pres…
Born 1959, in Canada. Education: University of Montreal, bachelor's degree (political science). Hobbies and other interests: Riding his motorcycle. Agent—Mela Bolinao, HK Portfolio, 10 E. 29th St., 40G, New York, NY 10016. Cartoonist, commercial artist, writer, and illustrator, 1980–. Kami-Case (publishing house), Montreal, Quebec, Canada, founder, 1986. ACIBD. Governor Gener…
1970– Actor Simmons, Henry, photograph. Reuters/Ethan Miller/Landov. The first thing many notice about Henry Simmons is his gorgeous face. The next thing is probably his enviable physique. Simmons, however, would like his most prominent feature to be his acting skills. Since his debut in 1997 on the soap opera Another World, he has been mesmerizing many with both his physical features and h…
Nationality: American. Born: Green Bay, Wisconsin, 1957. Education: University of California, Berkeley, B.A. 1979; Columbia University, M.F.A. 1983. Awards: Guggenheim award, 1988; Whiting prize, 1989; Lila Wallace Readers Digest award, 1996-99; Hadder prize, Princeton University. Agent: Amanda Urban, International Creative Management, 40 West 57th St., New York, New York 10019, U.S.A. In Anywhere…
Born 1963, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; divorced); Education: University of Toronto, B.A. and M.A., 1987; Ryerson University, B.A.A., 1989. Office—The Hamilton Spectator, 44 Frid St., Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8N 3G3. Hamilton Spectator, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, newspaper reporter, feature writer, food columnist, 1996—; writer. Has also worked as a radio producer. Society of Chi…
1975(?)— Singer Among the most versatile new performers in the world of opera in the late 1990s and early 2000s has been N'kenge Simpson-Hoffman, whose talents encompass musical theater, jazz, and popular song as well as traditional operatic repertory. She has performed at the White House and the United Nations, has taken lead roles in operas by composers ranging from Mozart to Pucci…
1917-2003 Tap dancer Howard "Sandman" Sims was a tap dancer, a practitioner of a style of dance in which a beat is loudly, clearly tapped out by a dancer sporting specially-made hard-soled shoes with metal plates, or taps, on their heels or toes. He developed his own distinctive dance style, in which he tapped on sand, and he was among the legendary black American entertainers whose …
(Blanche L. Sims) Born in Cleveland, OH; Hobbies and other interests: Music (especially classical), New York Times crossword puzzles. Famous Artists School, Westport, CT, began as art researcher, became instructor in young people's art; Xerox Corp., Middletown, CT, illustrator in art department; book illustrator. Also worked variously as a waitress, phone operator, sales clerk, and life gua…
Nationality: British. Born: Oxford, 1935. Education: The Dragon School, Oxford; Eton College, Berkshire (King's scholar), 1948-53; Trinity College, Cambridge, 1955-58, B.A. (double 1st) in history, 1958; Churchill College, Cambridge, Ph.D. in American history 1962. Military Service: Served in the Coldstream Guards, 1953-55: Ensign. Career: Harkness fellow, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mas…
Daniel S. Mead Literary Agency, New York, NY, editor, 1967; Where (magazine), New York, NY, assistant editor, 1969; New York City Public High Schools, New York, NY, teacher of English and speech, 1969-74; writer, 1974—. Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Authors Guild, American Library Association, Dog Writers Association of America, PEN American Center, Nature Cons…
See index for CA sketch: Born February 14, 1942, in Chicago, IL; died of ovarian cancer January 16, 2005, in Los Angeles, CA. Author. Singer was the author of numerous children's books for early readers. A graduate of the University of Texas, where she earned a B.A. in 1964, she was a Peace Corps volunteer for two years, teaching at a penal colony in the Philippines. Returning home, she bec…
Shakira: 1977—: Singer, songwriter. By the time Shakira released her first English language album, 2001's Laundry Service, she had long been an international star in the Spanish speaking world. With four records—the first recorded when she was just thirteen—the petite Colombian singer-songwriter was already established as an authentic rockera with a unique sound tha…
Gloria Estefan: Singer, songwriter. Gloria Estefan has been entertaining fans since she joined The Miami Latin Boys in the 1970s. She has inspired many people, and helped to bring the Latin sound to the pop genre. She has weathered many storms, but still managed to continue to release platinum-selling record after record. Estefan was born "Glorita" Fajardo, in Cuba, on September …
Nationality: Indian. Born: Hadali, India (now Pakistan) 2 February 1915. Education: The Modern School, New Delhi; St. Stephen's College, New Delhi; Government College, Lahore, B.A. 1934; King's College, London, LL.B. 1938; called to the bar, Inner Temple, London, 1938. Career: Practicing lawyer, High Court, Lahore, 1939-47; press attaché, Indian Foreign Service, in London and Ot…
(L.J. Singleton, Jamie Suzanne, a house pseudonym) Born 1957; Linda Joy SigletonEducation: Telephone Company, Sacramento, CA, operator, 1975, word processor, 1975–82, staff clerk, 1982. Politics: Democrat. Hobbies and other interests: Square dancing, boating, swimming, walking, reading, collecting series books, cats. Agent—Pesha Rubinstein, 1392 Rugby Rd., Teaneck, NJ 07666. Romance…
(E. S. Budd, Hal Rogers) Born 1966, in Boulder, CO; Education: University of Colorado, B.A.; attended Universitá per Stranieri di Siena. Politics: Democrat. Hobbies and other interests: Dogs, gardening, travel, film, reading. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Chelsea House Publishers, 1974 Sproul Rd., Suite 400, Broomall, PA 19008. Writer and editor, beginning 1989. Member, Colorado Public Radio…
1912-2003 Political activist Walter Sisulu was one of South Africa's most important leaders in its decades-long struggle to end apartheid. A key figure in the African National Congress (ANC) of the 1940s, it was he who brought future South African president Nelson Mandela into the organization. Both Sisulu and Mandela were later imprisoned for 25 years by the South African government for th…
Born 1976, in Cincinnati, OH; mother an art history teacher. Education: Stanford University, B.A.; Iowa Writer's Workshop, M.F.A., 2001 Agent—c/o Author Mail, Random House, 1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. Novelist. Writer-in-residence, St. Albans School, Washington, DC, 2002–03, English teacher, 2003–. Seventeen magazine fiction-writing contest, winner, 1992; winter,…
Male. Hobbies and other interests: Collecting old maps, water polo, roller coasters. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Deseret Book Company, P.O. Box 30178, Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0178. Writer. Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo (children's fiction), illustrated by Ben Sowards, Shadow Mountain (Salt Lake City, UT), 2005. Four more books in the "Foo" series, including book two, …
Born 1967, in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada; Education: University of Saskatchewan, B.A. (with honors), 1989. Hobbies and other interests: Biking, t'ai chi, hockey. Advertising copywriter in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, 1990-95; writer, 1995—. Has also worked as a hotel night auditor, a radio copy writer, and a census taker. Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illust…
Nationality: British. Born: New Delhi, India, 1946. Educated in Botswana and England. Career: Advertising copywriter, Garland Compton Ltd., 1966-68, Norman Craig and Kummel, 1969-71, Collett Dickenson and Pearce, 1971-72, Nadler Larimer and Cromer, 1972-74, all London. Freelance writer, 1974-85. Awards: Geoffrey Faber Memorial prize, 1977. With this resolution, Constance, Caroline Slaughter…
Born 1955, in New York, NY; Education: Connecticut College, B.A. Artist, designer, and printmaker. Director, Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation. (Illustrator) Marc Mayer, Tom Boat [New York, NY], 1987. M Is for Moon, self-published, 1990. (Illustrator) Jon Robin Baitz, Whatever We Lose, Durham Press, 1998. One, Two, Three: A Counting Book, Tundra Books (Plattsburgh, NY), 2003. (Illustrator) Marthe Joc…
1934- Electrical engineer, physicist Dr. John Slaughter's career has in many ways traveled a wide circle, leading him from the radio repair shop that helped pay his college tuition, to high-tech electrical engineering jobs, and then back to school as the president of two nationally respected colleges. His most recent job, the presidency of the National Action Council for Minorities in Engin…
Born 1959, in Belleville, Ontario, Canada; Education: Attended Sheridan College (Oakville, Ontario, Canada). Tele-Direct, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, layout artist, 1978-81; General Store Publishing House, Burnstown, Ontario, Canada, art director, 1982-87; freelance illustrator, 1988—. Founder with wife, Esperança Melo, of company Kinder Box. Has exhibited artwork in shows at the Millb…
Surname is pronounced "slay-tir"; born 1945, in Havre de Grace, MD; Education: Harvard University, B.A., 1967; studied musical composition in London, England, 1967–68. Politics: "Independent." Agent—Sheldon Fogelman, 10 East 40th St., New York, NY 10016. William Sleator Author, composer, and musician. Royal Ballet School, London, England, accompanist, 196…
Born 1975, in Belgium; Education: Four years of formal study (design and illustration). Office—c/o Author Mail, Kane/Miller Book Publishers, P.O. Box 8518, La Jolla, CA 92038. Illustrator and author. Karel gaat naar school, Clavis, 1999, translated as Kevin Goes to School, Kane/Miller (La Jolla, CA), 2002. Liesbet Slegers Karel in het ziekenhuis, Clavis, 1999, translated as Kevin Go…
Born 1948, in Salem, OR; Education: Oregon State University, B.A. (with honors), 1970; graduate study at Sonoma State University and Oregon College of Education. Agent—Kendra Marcus, 67 Meadow View Dr., Orinda, CA 94563. Elementary school teacher in rural villages in Alaska, 1970–75; developer and illustrator of bilingual materials used in classrooms, 1975–81; freelance textb…
19??— Comedian Slocumb, Jonathan, photograph. Chris Graythen/Getty Images. In an era when it is common for comics to use four-letter words and make sexual innuendos, Jonathan Slocumb is known as "Mr. Clean." "Mixing comedy with gospel messages and music is certainly a unique approach," wrote Janine Coveney in Billboard, "and that's the road t…
Born 1932, in Plymouth, England; immigrated to Australia, 1962. Education: London College of Speech and Drama, diploma (speech therapy), 1954. Agent—c/o Australian Socity of Authors Ltd., P.O. Box 1566, Strawberry Hills, New South Wales 2012, Australia. Children's book author and speech therapist. Australian Society of Authors, Childrens's Book Council of Australia (New South …
Born 1954, in CA; Hobbies and other interests: Gardening, reading, art. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Bloomsbury USA, 175 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10010. Children's book author. Camp Buccaneer, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Reader (New York, NY), 2002. The Last Burp of Mac McGerp, illustrated by Lizzy Bromley, Bloomsbury Children's Books (Ne…
Born 1948, in Shrewesbury, Salop, England; Education: Attended Birmingham College of Arts. Religion: Roman Catholic. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Bloomsbury Publishing, 36 Soho Square, London W1D 3QY, England. Author and illustrator. Graphic artist; designer of greeting cards and book jackets. Former illustrator for children's television program Rainbow. British Association of Illustrators…
Nationality: American. Born: Los Angeles, 1949. Education: Vassar College, B.A. in English 1971; University of Iowa, M.A. 1975, M.F.A. 1976, Ph.D. 1978. Career: Assistant professor, 1981-84, associate professor, 1984-89, professor, 1989-90, distinguished Professor, 1992-96, Iowa State University. Visiting assistant professor, University of Iowa, 1981, 1987. Awards: Ful-bright grant, 1976-77; Pushc…
1929-2003 Artist In a career that spanned half a century, painter Vincent Smith documented in brilliant color some of the most compelling events in twentieth-century America. From the be-bop-fueled improvisation of 1940s Harlem jazz clubs, to the visceral tug of civil rights workers confronting deep-seated hate with soul-clearing hope, to the creative militancy of the Black Arts Movement, Smith wa…
Nationality: British. Born: Newquay, Cornwall, 1923. Awards: Atlantic award, 1947; Rhys Memorial prize, 1949; James Tait Black Memorial prize for The Far Cry, 1950. Agent: Curtis Brown, 162-68 Regent Street, London W1R 5TB, England. (1991) What one writes for children is quite as important as what one writes for adults, and I'm not at all sure it isn't more important; because what c…
Nationality: American. Born: Grundy, Virginia, 1944. Education: Hollins College, B.A. 1967; attended Sorbonne, University of Paris. Career: Feature writer, film critic, and editor of Sunday magazine, Tuscaloosa News, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 1968-69; seventh-grade teacher, Harpeth Hall School, Nashville, Tennessee, 1971-73; teacher of language arts, Carolina Friends School, Durham, North Carolina, 197…
Nationality: Canadian. Born: Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, 1941. Education: Dalhousie University, B.A. 1963. Military Service: Royal Canadian Air Force, 1959-64; became flying officer. Career: Systems analyst, Manufacturer's Life, Toronto, Ontario, 1963-64; full-time writer, 1964-70; instructor in English, Loyola College, Montreal, Quebec, 1970; instructor in English, Dawson College, Montreal, …
1957— Firearms analyst Richard Smith is an expert firearms analyst for the Los Angeles Police Department's Scientific Investigation Division. Possessing an uncanny ability to remember microscopic detail, keen eyesight, patience, and tenacity, Smith helps the department crack difficult cases. Unassuming, thoughtful, and articulate, Smith once sought to dedicate his life to the ministr…
Born 1971, in Baltimore, MD; Education: Attended Baltimore School for the Arts and North Carolina School of the Arts. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Scholastic, Inc., 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012. Actress and author. Appeared in films, including Moe's World, 1990; Menace II Society, 1993; The Inkwell, 1994; Jason's Lyric, 1994; A Low-down Dirty Shame, 1994; Demon Knight, 1995; The…
1975— Writer Smith, Zadie, photograph. David Levenson/Getty Images. One of the most exciting and successful British writers of the twenty-first century, Zadie Smith published her first novel, White Teeth, in the year 2000, at age 25. An immediate success, her debut novel garnered acclaim from critics around the world. The book went on to win the prestigious Whitbread Award for a firs…
Born 1960, in McKees Rock, PA; Education: Attended Ohio State University. Agent—Cartoon Books, P.O. Box 16973, Columbus, OH 43216. Cartoon Books, Columbus, OH, cartoonist and publisher of Bone comic books. Character Builders (animation studio), co-founder, producer, and director. Eight Eisner awards for best humor publication, best continuing series, best writer/artist or cartoonist, and b…
Born 1951, in Portland, OR; Education: Attended Portland State University. Agent—Barbara Kouts, P.O. Box 560, Bellport, NY 11713. Zoologist and author. Zoo keeper and senior research biologist at Portland Zoo, Portland, OR, and Point Defiance Zoo, Tacoma, WA, for twenty years. Has appeared on national and local television shows, including National Geographic, Audubon, Discover the World of…
1942— Jazz organist and pianist A turban-wearing jazz institution, and one of the few jazz players to specialize in the difficult Hammond B-3 electric organ, Dr. Lonnie Smith has had a long musical career that may be divided into three distinct sections. In the first, shortly after his discovery, Smith played as a sideman in jazz bands led by others, most notably guitarist George Benson. In…
1940— Jazz keyboardist The "fusion" jazz of the 1970s, which merged jazz with more commercially oriented influences from rock, rhythm-and-blues, and funk, fell out of fashion as its leading practitioners either moved into popular music or went on to newer jazz experiments. But keyboardist Lonnie Liston Smith has been fusion's survivor. Resurrecting his career several ti…