1970— Political analyst, television commentator A political analyst and commentator who joined CNN's political team in 2003, Carlos Watson has been described as a rising star at the network, representing a new generation of political journalists and interested as much in personalities as he is in policies and political goals. A graduate of Harvard University and Stanford Law School, …
1972(?)— Vocalist, instrumentalist, comedian The musical activities of Seattle, Washington's Reggie Watts are so diverse that they are difficult to classify. His lyrical and wide-ranging baritone voice has drawn comparisons with those of various classic soul stylists of the 1970s, most often Al Green. As lead singer of the Seattle band Maktub, Watts has partnered with musicians from …
Born 1957, in Lynchburg, VA; Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: College of William & Mary, B.A., 1979; University of Virginia, M.Ed. (reading), 1991. Religion: Protestant. Educator and writer. Harrington Waddell School, Lexington, VA, teacher, 1979–2006; Lynchburg College, Lynchburg, VA, assistant professor, 2006–. Shenandoah Reading Council Board, Central Virgin…
Born 1961, in Weston, Ontario, Canada; divorced; Education: York University, B.A. (psychology; with honors), 1984. Agent—Pamela Paul, The Pamela Paul Agency, 12 Westrose Ave., Toronto, Ontario M8X 2A1, Canada. Writer and illustrator. Arthur Ellis Award shortlist, and Anthony Award for Best First Novel shortlist, both 1991, both for The Chocolate Box; Arthur Ellis Award for Best Short Story,…
Born 1935; children: three. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Delacorte Press, Bantam Dell, 1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. Children's book author. Formerly worked as a grammar teacher for seventeen years; retired. Birmingham Readers and Writers Children's Book Award, Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, Carnegie Award shortlist, Reading Matic Award Top-Ten designation, Parentin…
Born 1963, in Detroit, MI; Education: University of Michigan, B.F.A. (graphic design). Collage artist and author and illustrator of children's books. Artist of the Month, Grey Advertising, 1998. (With Della Rowland) Ten Things I Know about Kangaroos, illustrated by Thomas Payne, Contemporary Books (Chicago, IL), 1989. (With Della Rowland) Ten Things I Know about Penguins, illustrated by Tho…
Born 1950, in Park Rapids, MN; Education: Attended Saint Cloud State University, 1968–69; University of Minnesota, B.A., 1972; Stanford University, M.A., 1979. Politics: "Progressive." Hobbies and other interests: Mountain hiking, hunting and fishing, studying short story form, rock and roll. Office—Bemidji State University, 1500 Birchmont Drive, Bemidji, MN 56601. Agen…
Born 1956, in La Mesa, CA; Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: University of California, San Diego, B.A., 1982; University of Oklahoma, M.L.I.S., 1990. Librarian and writer. Moore Public Library, Moore, OK, head of children's services, 1990–97; Oklahoma Department of Libraries, Oklahoma City, public library consultant, 1997–2002; Mustang Public Library, Mustang, O…
Born 1961, in Corning, NY; Education: Clarkson College (Potsdam, NY), B.S. (mathematics and computer science), 1983; Temple University, M.B.A., 1990. Unisys Corporation, Blue Bell, PA, technical writer and quality assurance analyst, 1985-90; Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, adjunct instructor, 1990-98, full-time instructor of computer science, 1996-97; North Penn school district, La…
Born 1958, in Freeport, IL; Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: University of Illinois, B.F.A., 1980. Comic-book and children's picture book illustrator and author, and graphic artist. Obata Design, St. Louis, MO, creative director, 1989–. Creator of character The Sphinx, for comic-book series Big Bang. Creator of character Atomic Ace for children's picture-book s…
Born 1960. Agent—c/o Author Mail, North-South Books, 875 16th Ave., Ste. 1901, New York, NY 10001. Writer of children's books. The Strongest Mouse in the World, illustrated by Nicholas d'Aujourd'hui, translation by J. Alison James, North-South Books (New York, NY), 1998. All-Weather Friends, illustrated by Nicholas d'Aujourd'hui, translation by J. Alison …
Born 1959, in New York, NY; Education: University of Pennsylvania, M.S.; Wesleyan University, M.A.; Columbia University Teachers College, M.Ed., doctoral study. Glastonbury High School, Glastonbury, CT, Spanish teacher, 1986–99; Catholic Relief Services, Hanoi, Vietnam, program manager of education, 1999–2002; Aid to Women Artisans (humanitarian concern), founder; writer. Three Natio…
(Margaret Baldwin) Born 1948, in Independence, MO; Education: University of Missouri, B.A. (creative writing), 1970. Politics: "Independent." Office—P.O. Box 1106, Williams Bay, WI 53191. Agent—c/o Jonathon Lazear, Lazear Agency, 430 First Ave. N., Ste. 416, Minneapolis, MN 55401. Author and editor. Herald Publishing House, Independence, MO, advertising director, 1972&…
1950— Automotive executive Welburn, Edward T., photograph. AP/Wide World Phoros. Reproduced by permission. Edward T. Welburn became chief designer of General Motors Corporation, the world's largest automaker, in 2003. The appointment made him the first African American to rise to what is considered one of the most prestigious jobs in the automotive industry. Welburn's m…
Nationality: American. Born: Browning, Montana, in 1940. Education: The University of Montana, Missoula, B.A.; Northern Montana College, Harve. Awards: National Endowment for the Arts grant, 1969; Los Angeles Times prize, for Fools Crow, 1987. James Welch has described himself as both an "Indian writer" and "an Indian who writes." This double vision of American Indian …
1908-2003 Singer Welch, Elisabeth, photograph. AP/Wide World Photos. Elisabeth Welch enjoyed a long and esteemed career as a cabaret singer and London stage star over several decades of the mid-twentieth century. A New York City native, Welch had her earliest successes in the all-black musical revues on Broadway in the 1920s. After a hiatus of nearly fifty years, she returned to perform in …
Raquel Welch: 1940—: Actress. After moving from Beverly Hills to New York City with her husband in 1985, Raquel Welch reflected in Ladies Home Journal that her big California home had been "a glossed-over paradise, a padded cell." The description might have been a metaphor for the first part of Welch's acting career, which trapped her in the role of sex symbol. Near…
Nationality: British. Born: Fay Birkinshaw in Alvechurch, Worcestershire, 1931; grew up in New Zealand. Education: Girls' High School, Christchurch; Hampstead Girls' High School, London; University of St. Andrews, Fife, 1949-52, M.A. in economics and psychology 1952. D. Litt, University of Bath, 1988, University of St. Andrews, 1992. Career: writer for the Foreign Office and Daily Mi…
Born 1957, in London, England; Education: University of Michigan, B.F.A., 1978; additional study at New York School of Visual Arts, 1986. Hobbies and other interests: Travel, ballet, sewing, quilting. Artist; freelance writer and illustrator of children's books, 1987—. Teacher at School of Visual Arts, New York, NY, 1994—. Formerly worked in antique galleries and at the Victor…
Born 1943, in New York, NY; Education: Attended Boston Museum School and a small private junior college (now defunct) in New York State. Religion: "Nominal Episcopalian." Allyn and Bacon, Inc., Boston, MA, art editor; Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., New York, NY, art designer; freelance author and illustrator, 1968—. Also worked at various jobs, including buyer of women'…
Nationality: Scottish. Born: Edinburgh, Scotland, 1958. Education: Heriot-Watt University, M.B.A. Career: Worked at various jobs, including television repairman, musician, and software consultant; writer, 1993—. Agent: c/o Jonathan Cape, 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 2SA, England. In terms of its influence, Irvine Welsh's phenomenally successful first novel, Trainspotting, ca…
Nationality: American. Born: Jackson, Mississippi, 1909. Education: Mississippi State College for Women, Columbus, 1925-27; University of Wisconsin, Madison, B.A. 1929; Columbia University School for Advertising, New York, 1930-31. Career: Part-time journalist, 1931-32; publicity agent, Works Progress Administration (WPA), 1933-36; staff member, New York Times Book Review, during World War II. Hon…
Nationality: Samoan. Born: Apia, Western Samoa, 1939; member of the Aiga Sa-Tuala. Education: New Plymouth Boys High School, New Zealand, graduated 1957; Ardmore Teacher's College, diploma in teaching, 1959; Victoria University, Wellington, 1960-64, M.A. (honours) in history 1964. Career: Teacher, 1964-69, and principal, 1969-73, Samoa College, Apia; senior lecturer, 1974-75, assistant dire…
Born 1961, in Salem, MA; Education: Yale University, B.A. (English), 1983. Politics: Democrat. Religion: Jewish. Agent—Ginger Knowlton, Curtis Brown, 10 Astor Place, New York, NY 10003. Software technical writer for various companies, 1983–87; Thomson Investment Software, Boston, MA, part-time software technical writer, 1987–97; part-time worker for software companies, 1997&#…
Nationality: British. Born: Mary Farmar in Englefield Green, Berkshire, 1912. Education: Queen's College, London, 1928-39; London School of Economics, 1931-32. Career: Staff member, War Office, London, 1939-41. C.B.E. (Commander, Order of the British Empire), 1995. Mary Wesley's popularity can be traced in part to the humor, sensitivity, and wit with which she handles her characters…
Born 1947; Education: Howard University, B.A., 1970; Bank Street College of Education, M.A.; Graduate School of Journalism, Columbia University, M.A. Agent—Faith Childs Literary Agency, 915 Broadway, Ste. 1009, New York, NY 10010. Scholastic News, associate editor, 1970–72; Essence, New York, NY, began as travel editor, 1988, became senior editor, 1990, executive editor, 1992–…
Nationality: Irish. Born: County Down, Northern Ireland, 1910. Military Service: Served in the Royal Air Force Pathfinder Force during World War II: air observer and navigator bomber. Awards: Atlantic award, 1946. I have a creative and an a-political interest in the human condition, wherever and however it may be found, with the incorrigible hope for social harmony and world tolerance. * * * The …
Nationality: American. Born: Eckington, Derbyshire, England, 1930; moved to the United States, 1961; became citizen, 1971. Education: The University of Birmingham, 1947-50, B.A. (1st class honours) 1950; Oxford University, 1950-52; Columbia University, New York, M.A. 1953. Military Service: Served in the Royal Air Force, 1954-57: flight lieutenant. Career: Assistant professor, 1957-58, and associa…
1977— Rapper, producer West, Kanye, photograph. Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images. The double-platinum, triple-Grammy award success of Kanye West's debut album, The College Dropout, was a surprise to many in the industry, but not to West himself. The young rapper and producer had confidently touted the classic status of his work, shaped creatively during a harrowing period of recove…
1907-1998 Novelist Dorothy West's career has been as anomalous as her life. She had once described herself as "the best-known unknown writer of the time," as quoted in American Visions. Born to a freed slave, she lived in one of the very few well-to-do black families in Boston, almost a contradiction in terms. As a teenager she won short story prizes and was widely published; …
1955— Corporate executive President, CEO, and co-founder of Millennium Digital Media LLC, Kelvin R. Westbrook is one of the most sought-after executives and among the most influential black business leaders of the early twenty-first century. He sits on the boards of numerous high-profile companies, including the National Cable Satellite Corporation, better known as C-SPAN. In his early care…
1930(?)-1995 Chiropractor Dr. Bobby Westbrooks, a practicing chiropractor, founded the American Black Chiropractic Association (ABCA) in 1981 in St. Louis, Missouri. He served as its executive director until his death in 1995. The goals of the ABCA include increasing the awareness of chiropractic treatment within the black community and attracting black men and women into the profession. Westbrook…
Born in TX; married Justine Larbalestier (a researcher and writer). Agent—Jill Grinberg, Anderson Grinberg Litrary Management, 244 5th Ave., 11th Fl., New York, NY 10001. Writer, composer, and media designer. Philip K. Dick Award special citation, 2000; New York Times Notable Book citation, 2000; BBYB Best Books of the Year selection, 2004; New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age se…
(Z.Z. Smith, David Kaplan Westheimer) OBITUARY NOTICE—See index for SATA sketch: Born April 11, 1917, in Houston, TX; died of heart failure November 8, 2005, in Los Angeles, CA. Journalist and author. Westheimer was a novelist best known for his books Von Ryan's Express and My Sweet Charlie. A 1937 graduate of Rice University, his early career was devoted to journalism. He was workin…
Surname sounds like "Wayne"; born 1955, in Flushing, NY; Education: Nassau Community College, A.A., 1975; State University of New York, B.A., 1977. Politics: Democrat. Hobbies and other interests: Swimming, traveling, reading novels and history, learning about ancient religions. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Andrea Brown, Literary Agent, 301 West 53rd St., Ste. 13B, New York, NY 1001…
Name is a pseudonym. Nationality: American. Born: Phildalphia, Pennsylvania, 1925. Education: The University of California, Los Angeles. Military Service: Served in the United States Army Infantry, 1943-47. Career: Teacher, 1950-60; since 1960, full-time painter and writer. Awards: American Book award, 1980. Fantasy and intimacy are two main thrusts of my work. I usually write in the first person…
Born 1952; Education: Elmira College, B.A.; attended School of Visual Arts, and New School for Social Research. Offıce—375 South End Ave., #12T, New York, NY 10280. Writer and illustrator. Dial Press, New York, NY, worked as a design assistant and secretary for two years; owner of freelance illustration business, 1980—. Lawrence Weinberg, What Is This For?, Little Simon (New Y…
Born 1963; children: two daughters, one son. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Writer. Mitten Award, Michigan Library Association, 2003, for Old Cricket; Froggy Award for Best Children's Book, 2003, for Turk and Runt; Please Touch Museum Book Award, 2004, for One Dark Night. Wool Gathering: A Sheep Family Reunion, illustrated by Frank Ansley, Atheneum (New York, NY), 2001. Turk and Runt, illus…
1961— Actor, director, producer Whitaker, Forest, photograph. © Rufus R. Folkks/Corbis. "A burly, good-natured Texan, soft-spoken and a little shy, Forest Whitaker doesn't exactly stand out in a crowd," wrote Associated Press correspondent Jay Sharbutt. "But in Hollywood, where unemployment is the rule, not the exception, he does OK." Whitaker,…
1957— Journalist Whitaker, Mark, photograph. AP/Wide World Photos. Near the end of 1998, Newsweek announced it had named veteran staff journalist Mark Theis Whitaker to the post of editor. Whitaker, who had worked for the magazine in various capacities, became the first African American editor of a major news weekly in the United States. As Carl Swanson remarked about Whitaker in the…
1933?— Baseball player, broadcaster, league executive White, Bill, photograph. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission. When Bill White was named president of baseball's National League in 1989, he became the highest-ranking black executive in all of professional sports. With a salary of $250,000 per year in a demanding administrative position that requires resolution, …
(Ruth White Miller) Born 1942, in Whitewood, VA; divorced; Education: Montreat-Anderson College, A.A., 1962; Pfeiffer College, A.B., 1966; Queens College (Charlotte, NC), library media specialist certification, 1976. Politics: "Independent." Hobbies and other interests: Yoga, exercising, walking with her golden retriever. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 19 Unio…
1940— Blues vocalist, guitarist, actor White, Josh Jr., photograph. John Fraser/Toronto Winterfolk III. Reproduced by permission. The son of one of the most famous performers the blues tradition ever produced, Josh White Jr. has patterned his music after his father's and has devoted part of his musical life to carrying on his father's legacy. Yet he has never been simpl…
Nationality: American. Born: Cincinnati, Ohio, 1940. Education: The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Hopwood award, 1961, 1962), B.A. 1962. Career: Staff writer, Time, 1962-79, and editor, Saturday Review, 1972-73, both New York; assistant professor, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, 1977-79; adjunct professor, Columbia University, New York, 1981-83, and instructor in creative writing, Yale U…
1961-2004 Football player, minister, philanthropist For a decade and a half, Reggie White dominated the National Football League as one of its most ferocious defensive players. White habitually struck terror into opposing offenses with his great strength, but he also possessed speed, stamina, and the ability to size up situations for maximum impact. Former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Buddy Ryan…
1946- Bass-baritone opera singer, actor Widely considered one of the greatest singers of his generation, Jamaican-born bass-baritone Willard White made his professional operatic debut with New York City Opera, where he played the character of Colline in La Bohème in 1974. His European debut was with Welsh National Opera in Cardiff, Wales, where he played Osmin in Mozart's The Abducti…
Born 1933, in New Bedford, MA; Education: Tufts University, B.A., 1954; University of Buffalo, M.Ed., 1968. Hobbies and other interests: Grass-roots politics, volunteering in local mayor's office. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Malden Schools, Malden, MA, elementary-grade teacher, 1954–55; Amerikan Kiz Koleji, Izmir, Turkey, teacher, 1955–58; Amherst public school system, Amhe…
Education: Northwestern University, B.S.; Tulane University Law School, J.D. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Clarion Books, 215 Park Ave., New York, NY 10003. Attorney and author. Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Kiriyama Prize notable designation, Voice of Youth Advocates Top-Shelf Fiction for Middle-School Readers selection, both 2005, and NewHampshire Great Stone Face …
Born in Newton, MA; Education: Tufts University, graduated; Emerson College, M.F.A. Hobbies and other interests: Reading, horseback riding, watching the Red Sox and Celtics. Agent—Shanta Small, Publicist, Random House Children's Books, 1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. Writer. Judy Blume grant, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, 2001; New England Children&#…
Born 1953, in Cleveland, OH; Ethnicity: "White." Education: Temple University, B.F.A., 1976. Religion: Christian. Offıce—Coleman Fine Art, 45 Hasell St., Charleston, SC 29401; fax: 843-722-2552. Writer; professional artist, 1976—. Exhibitions: Artwork represented in collections at Bell Atlantic, Easter Seals Society, University of Pennsylvania, and West Chester …
Born 1953, in Hartford, CT; Education: Graduated from Paier College of Art (Hamden, CT), 1973. Offıce—Winsted, CT. Agent—c/o Scholastic Press, 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012. Photographer and writer of children's books, 1992—. Worked as a lab technician and photographer's assistant, Hartford, CT; photographer for magazines including Discover, Psychology …
Born 1960, in Casablanca, Morocco; Education: École Normale de Beauvais, degree (French); attended Arts Students' League (New York, NY), and École des Beaux Arts (Paris, France). Hobbies and other interests: Reading, listening to music, biking, going to plays, concerts, movies, art shows, and galleries. Agent—Linda Pratt, Sheldon Fogelman Agency, 10 E. 40th St., New Yor…
Nationality: American. Born: Washington, D.C., 1941. Education: Schools in Pittsburgh; University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (Franklin scholar), B.A. 1963 (Phi Beta Kappa); New College, Oxford (Rhodes scholar, 1963; Thouron fellow, 1963-66), B. Phil. 1966; University of Iowa, Iowa City (Kent fellow), 1966-67. Career: Member of the Department of English, Howard University, Washington, D.C., 196…
Nationality: Canadian. Born: Fairholme, Saskatchewan, 1934. Education: Alberta Mennonite High School; University of Alberta, Edmonton, 1953-56, 1958-60 (International Nickel graduate fellow, 1958-59; Queen Elizabeth graduate fellow, 1959-60), B.A. 1956, M.A. 1960; University of Tübingen, Germany (Rotary fellow), 1957-58; University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, 1961; University of Iowa, Iowa City, 1…
Born 1934, in Fairholme, Saskatchewan, Canada; Education: University of Alberta, B.A., 1956, M.A., 1960; Mennonite Brethren Bible College, B.Th., 1961; additional study at University of Tübingen, 1957-58, University of Manitoba, 1961, and University of Iowa, 1964. Religion: Mennonite. Hobbies and other interests: Photography, watching people, travel. Office—Department of English, Human…
Nationality: American. Born: San Antonio, Texas, 1946. Education: Baylor University, B.A. 1968; Louisiana State University, M.A. 1970; Bowling Green State University, M.F.A. 1974. Career: Yard clerk, Kansas City Southern Railroad, 1966-67; laborer, All-Tex Ranch Supply, Waco, Texas, 1967-68; instructor in English, Longwood College, Farmville, Virginia, 1970-72; assistant professor of English, Carn…
Born 1939, in Albion, ME; Education: New Brunswick Bible Institute (Canada), diploma, 1961; Fort Wayne Bible College, B.Re. 1963; St. Francis College (IN), M.S. (education), 1972; also attended University of Maine. Politics: Republican. Religion: Baptist. Hobbies and other interests: Small farming, gardening, poultry raising. Minister, educator, and writer. Palermo Baptist Churches, Palermo, ME, p…
Nationality: American. Born: Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 1947. Agent: Wylie, Aitken & Stone, Suite 2106, 250 West 57th Street, New York, New York 10107, U.S.A. Few would describe Marianne Wiggins's writing as the gentle, delicate sort. Her fierce, satiric wit and bold characters are legendary practice throughout her four novels and two works of short fiction. Wiggins seems to relish the…
1931— Politician, lawyer Wilder, L. Douglas, photograph. © Tim Wright/Corbis. On January 14, 1990, L. Douglas Wilder was sworn in as governor of Virginia, joining a line that includes Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, and Harry F. Byrd. Wilder became Virginia's 66th governor and the nation's first elected black governor. In 2004, Wilder became the first mayor of t…
Nationality: British. Born: Worcester, 1942. Education: Royal Grammar School, Worcester, 1950-59; Lincoln College, Oxford (editor, Isis, 1962), B.A. 1963, M.A. 1968. Career: Primary school teacher, Spetchley, Worcestershire, 1960; lecturer in English, University of Sydney, 1963-66; assistant lecturer, 1967-68, and lecturer in English, 1968, University of Birmingham. Senior lecturer, 1969-72, reade…
Nationality: New Zealander. Born: 1963. Awards: Heinemann Reed fiction award, 1989; New Zealand book award for fiction, 1993. Damien Wilkins is part of a new generation of New Zealand writers who came of age in the midst of a surge of literary production in their home country, just as New Zealand literature was beginning to gain significant recognition internationally. With the 1990 publication of…
1951— Corporate executive Wilkins, Ray, photograph. AP/Wide World Photos. Ray Wilkins's career blossomed at SBC Communications, Inc., as the company expanded over the years. Serving as group president for marketing and sales for the telecommunications giant in 2004, this Texas native began his career with the company when it was still Southwestern Bell, the local telephone com…
Male; Education: New York University, B.F.A. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Hyperion Books for Children, 114 Fifth Ave., 14th Fl., New York, NY 10011. Animator and illustrator. Researcher for Children's Television Workshop; script writer and animator, Sesame Street, PBS, 1994-2002; creator and director of animated series The Off-Beats, Nickelodeon, 1995-98; creator and director of animated s…
(Dorothy Snowden Williams) Born 1967, in Mount Kisco, NY; Education: Wesleyan University (Middletown, CT), B.A. Agent—Ron Fierstein, RF Entertainment Inc., 29 Haines Rd., Bedford Hills, NY 10507. Musician, songwriter, and novelist; recording artist and performer. (With Elizabeth Zipern) The Tofu Tollbooth (guide book), Ceres (Woodstock, NY), 1998. Amalee (juvenile novel), Scholastic (New Yo…
Nationality: American. Born: Jackson, Mississippi, 1925. Education: Central High School, Syracuse, New York; Syracuse University, A.B. 1950. Military Service: Served in the United States Navy, 1943-46. Career: Member of the public relations department, Doug Johnson Associates, Syracuse, 1952-54, and Arthur P. Jacobs Company; staff member, CBS, Hollywood and New York, 1954-55; publicity director, C…
1954— Research scientist, professor of sociology and public health Born into working-class poverty in a colonized society, David Williams observed the effects of racial and economic oppression from an early age. With the support of his family and his deeply held religious beliefs, he not only grew to believe in his ideas and abilities, but he also determined to live a life of service to oth…
1956- Filmmaker Marco Williams's documentaries offer an unflinchingly look in the face of hard issues like racism, injustice, and the black American experience. In filming personal issues such as the search for his father or the repercussions of a black man's murder at the hands of white racists, Williams has created a body of work that rises above its subjects. "The personal …
(Dorothy Williams) Born 1945, in England; daugher of Peter Powell (an author and theatre director) and Joan Alexander Carnwath (a writer); stepEducation: Educated in England and Switzerland; studied painting at Richmond College; University of Surrey (Roehampton, England), M.A. (Hobbies and other interests: Animals, reading, travel, food, friends, film, children, music. Marcia Williams Agent…
1951— Lawyer, writer, essayist, educator Patricia J. Williams is "one of the most provocative intellectuals in American law," as noted in the Columbia University News upon her receipt of the MacArthur "genius" Fellowship in 2000. In her writings and teachings Patricia J. Williams always begins with the notion that experience counts. Society should not let case la…
1973— Music producer Pharrell Williams scored hit after hit beginning in 2002 thanks to his producing talents for an array of top musical acts. As one half of the Neptunes, Williams writes and puts a unique stamp on singles for Usher, Nelly, Justin Timberlake, and many others. He and his co-Neptune, high-school pal Chad Hugo, also put out music of their own under the "N.E.R.D."…
Born 1957, in Queens, NY; father in the military, mother's name Essie (a domestic servant); Education: Graduated from Hofstra University; postgraduate study in creative writing at Queens College; studied dance under Alvin Ailey and Phil Black. Hobbies and other interests: Chess, playing Tetris, jogging, sewing. Agent—c/o Author Mail, HarperCollins Children's, 1350 Avenue of th…
Nationality: American. Born: Constance Elaine, Denver, Colorado, 1945. Education: University of Northern Colorado, B.A. in English and elementary education. Career: Elementary school teacher, 1967-68, and junior high teacher, 1968-69, Branford, Connecticut, public schools. Awards: Nebula award, 1982, and Hugo award, 1982, both for Fire Watch; 1982 for "A Letter from the Clearys"; Neb…
1982– Pitcher Willis, Dontrelle, photograph. Elsa/Getty Images. Even as Major League Baseball's 2003 National League Rookie of the Year, left-handed pitcher Dontrelle Willis seemed to be a classic baseball hero. He had a trademark style, with an ultra-high kick reminiscent of 1960s great Juan Marichal, and an unusual, deceptive windup. He wrote his mother's name inside his dis…
1908–1999 Entertainer, entrepreneur, promoter, political consultant Known as Detroit's most congenial host, William Nathaniel "Sunnie" Wilson distinguished himself among the city's entertainment, political, and business communities for over six decades. When Wilson purchased the Forest Club on Detroit's legendary Hastings Street in 1941, he became the owne…
Born 1945, in Bath, England; Hobbies and other interests: Browsing in bookshops, visiting art galleries, going to movies, swimming, line dancing. Agent—David Higham Associates, 5-8 Lower John Street, Golden Square, London W1R 4HA, England. Journalist, freelance magazine writer, and author of books and radio plays. Employed by D. C. Thomsons, Dundee, Scotland, 1963-65. Young Telegraph/Fully …
1918— Jazz bandleader, composer, trumpeter Jazz is often thought to be a young person's art, with soloists and bandleaders becoming best known for innovations they have developed early in their careers. In the hands of bandleader, composer, and trumpeter Gerald Wilson, however, jazz has inspired a process of lifelong musical growth over a seven-decade career. As a jazz musician, Wils…
Born 1970, in Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada; Education: Attended Malaspina College (now University-College), 1988–90; attended University of Victoria, 1990–94; Camosun College, Diploma (applied communication), 2000. Writer. Summer camp counselor in British Columbia, Canada, 1990–98, 2000–01; British Columbia Ferries, customer sales and service representatives, …
Nationality: British. Born: Stone, Staffordshire, 1950. Education: Rugby School, Warwickshire, 1964-69; New College, Oxford (Chancellor's Essay prize, 1971; Ellerton Theological prize, 1975), 1969-72, M.A.; studied for priesthood, 1973-74. Career: Assistant master, Merchant Taylors' School, London, 1975-76; lecturer, St. Hugh's College, Oxford, 1976-82, and New College, 1977-8…
Born 1952, in Nottingham, England; Education: Durham University, graduated. Hobbies and other interests: Gardening, photography, Chinese martial arts. Agent—Sarah Molloy, A. M. Heath and Co. Ltd., 6 Warwick Ct., London WC1R 5DJ, England. Writer and writing tutor. Former translator. London Guardian Children's Fiction Award shortlist, 2004, and Branford Boase Award, 2005, both for Las…
1945–2005 Playwright, poet August Wilson carved his signature on American theater by capturing the changing texture of black life in America his ten plays, each covering a different decade of the twentieth century. About his achievement, he remarked in American Theatre: "From the beginning, I decided not to write about historical events or the pathologies of the black community. The …
1962(?)– Actor Wilson, Dorien, photograph. Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images. A familiar face for well over a decade on television in the United States, actor Dorien Wilson displayed impressive versatility. He first attracted wide notice as Eddie on the HBO cable series Dream On, playing a womanizing talk show host in what was generally considered one of the most ribald shows on television. B…
Born 1965, in Harare, Zimbabwe; Education: Attended London College of Printing. Hobbies and other interests: Basketball, squash, football, films, looking at magazines, watching television. Agent—Peters, Fraser & Dunlop, Drury House, 34-43 Russell St., London WC2B 5HA, England. Graphic designer and illustrator. Barkers Advertising and Marketing, Harare, Zimbabwe, designer, 1985ȁ…
1956-2005 Gospel vocalist and choir leader As a member of the award-winning contemporary gospel family quartet the Winans, Ronald Winans was a pioneer in the incorporation of modern pop sounds into the language of gospel music. As the leader of his own group, Ronald Winans Family & Friends, he brought contemporary sounds to a choral format and helped launch the careers of younger musicians.…
Born 1944, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Education: Attended Sydney Teachers College; National Art School, diploma in design; Alexander Mackie C.A.E., graduate diploma. Hobbies and other interests: Classical music. Office—P.O. Box 7, Stuart Town, 2820, New South Wales, Australia. Self-employed artist, illustrator, and writer since c. 1967. Kings School, Cambridgeshire, England, Art…
(Thura al-Windawi) Born 1983. Education: Attended University of Baghdad and University of Pennsylvania. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Viking/Penguin Group, 375 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014. Thura's Diary: My Life in Wartime Iraq (young adult), translation by Robin Bray, Viking (New York, NY), 2004. Thura al-Windawi, the daughter of a British-educated father and a middle-class Iraqi mother…
Born 1939, in Chicago, IL; Education: Attended the Art Institute of Chicago; University of Iowa, B.F.A. Author and illustrator. (Reteller) Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, The Christmas Visitors, Pantheon Books (New York, NY), 1968. (Reteller) The Girl and the Moon Man: A Siberian Tale, Pantheon (New York, NY), 1984. Come Out to Play, Knopf (New York, NY), 1986. (Reteller) The Magic Ring (based on …
(Kay Winters) Born 1936, in Trenton, NJ; Education: Beaver College (now Arcadia University), B.S.; attended Boston University; Wheelock College, M.S.; attended Lehigh University. Politics: Democrat. Religion: Protestant. Hobbies and other interests: Reading, biking, walking, gardening, traveling. Children's book author, reviewer, and consultant. Massachusetts Public Schools, Newton, MA, ele…
Nationality: British. Born: Lancashire in 1959. Education: St. Catherine's College, Oxford. Awards: Whitbread award, 1985; John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial prize, 1987. Jeanette Winterson is often described as one of the most controversial yet innovative fiction writers in contemporary English literature. Her promising beginnings as a young talent have been rounded off in the past decade and a…
(Elizabeth Winthrop Mahony) Born 1948, in Washington, DC; Education: Sarah Lawrence College, B.A., 1970. Politics: Democrat. Hobbies and other interests: Swimming, hiking, yoga. [Image Not Available] Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA, reporter, 1969; Harper & Row (publisher), New York, NY, assistant editor of Harper Junior Books, 1971–73; Editors Ink (manuscript evaluation service), New York,…
Nationality: Australian. Born: Karrinyup, Western Australia, 1960. Education: Western Australian Institute of Technology. Awards: Australian /Vogel award, 1981, for An Open Swimmer; Miles Franklin award, 1984, for Shallows; Deo Gloria award, 1991, WA Premiers award, 1991, National Book Council's Banjo award, 1992, and Miles Franklin award, 1992, all for Cloudstreet. Tim Winton is perhaps t…
Born 1923, in New York, NY. Education: Yale University, B.A., 1948. Agent—Curtis Brown, Ltd., 575 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10022. Writer. Jonathan Blake: The Life and Times of a Very Young Man, illustrated by Howard Simon, Knopf (New York, NY), 1956. Silversmith of Old New York: Myer Myers, illustrated by Leonard Everett Fisher, Farrar, Straus & Cudahy (New York, NY), 1958. Albert …
(Lenny Wise, Leonard A. Wise, Leonard Allan Wise) Born 1940, in Chatham, Ontario, Canada; Ethnicity: "Jewish." Education: University of Toronto, B.A., LL.B. Religion: Jewish. Hobbies and other interests: Documentary films. Attorney, writer, and actor. Lawyer in private practice in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 1970–2000; writer and actor, beginning 1970. Member of board of directo…
Surname is pronounced "wish-in-ski"; born 1948, in Munich, West Germany (now Germany); immigrated to United States, 1949; immigrated to Canada, 1970s; became a sculptor) and Mala (a homemaker) Reches; Education: City University of New York, B.A., 1970; Ferkanf Graduate School, Yeshiva University, M.Sc., 1971. Politics: "Independent (but usually Democrat)." Religion: Jew…
Nationality: American. Born: Carrington, North Dakota, 1941. Education: University of Illinois, Urbana, 1959-64, A.A. 1964. Career: Actor in Miami and New York, 1964-65; writer-in-residence, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1973-74; visiting professor, Wheaton College, Illinois, summers 1981 and 1984; visiting professor, 1983-84, professor of English, 1984-88, director of the Writing Program, 198…
Born 1978, in Mendham, NJ; daughter of James (a doctor of internal medicine) and Kathleen (a dog groomer) Wolf; Education: Rhode Island School of Design, B.F.A. (illustration), 2000. Author and illustrator of children's books. Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. (And illustrator) I Love You Just the Same, Henry Holt (New York, NY), 2003. Brave Little Raccoon, Henry …
Born 1931, in Brooklyn, NY; Education: Attended Texas A & M University, 1949–52; University of Houston, B.S.M.E., 1956. Religion: Roman Catholic. Agent—Virginia Kidd Agency, Box 278, Milford, PA 18337. Writer. Project engineer with Procter & Gamble, 1956–72; Plant Engineering magazine, Barrington, IL, senior editor, 1972–84. Military service: U.S. Army, 1952–54; …
Nationality: American. Born: Thomas Kennerly Wolfe, Jr. in Richmond, Virginia, 1930. Education: Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia, A.B. (cum laude) 1951; Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, Ph.D. 1957. Career: Reporter, Springfield Union, Massachusetts, 1956-59, Washington Post, 1959-62, and New York, Herald Tribune, 1962-66; writer, New York World Journal Tribune, 1966-67. A…
Born 1961, in Melbourne, Western Australia, Australia; Education: Melbourne State College, Diploma of Teaching; Western Australian Institute of Technology (now Curtin University), Certificate of Fluency in Japanese; University of Western Australia, M.A. (creative writing). Hobbies and other interests: Traveling, reading, swimming, bush-walking, photography, yoga, scuba diving. Teacher, Western Aus…
Nationality: American. Born: Birmingham, Alabama, 1945. Education: Hill School, 1964; Oxford University, B.A. 1972, M.A. 1975; Stanford University, California, M.A. 1977. Military Service: Served in the United States Army, 1964-68: Lieutenant. Career: Jones Lecturer in creative writing, Stanford University, (Stegner fellow), 1975-78; since 1980 Peck Professor of English, Syracuse University, New Y…
Born 1956, in Boston, MA; Education: Rhode Island School of Design, B.F.A., 1979. office—c/o Author Mail, E. P. Dutton, 375 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014. Author and illustrator. Valley Voice, Middlebury, VT, staff artist, 1979-80; Pacific Sun, Mill Valley, CA, staff artist, 1980-82; writer and illustrator of children's books, 1983—. Painter of trompe l'oeil murals in…
Born 1946, in Brooklyn, NY; Education: Queens College of the City University of New York, B.A., 1967, M.S., 1970; Rosemont College, certificate in holistic studies, 1992. Freelance author and lecturer. Yoga teacher and elementary-school teacher; Philadelphia Writer's Conference, panelist, 1990, judge of juvenile fiction, 1992, leader of workshop on juvenile writing, 1993, 2003. Philadelphi…
1950- Singer, songwriter In the course of following Stevie Wonder on his relentless travels, journalists come to realize just how beloved an entertainer he is. "It dawned on me," wrote Giles Smith in the New Yorker, "that a substantial part of Stevie Wonder's public life consists of the voices of complete strangers telling him they love him." Rolling Stone'…
Born 1977, in Leicester, Leicestershire, England. Education: Attended University of Sheffield. Hobbies and other interests: Watching movies, backpacking in foreign countries, touring with his band. Agent—Carolyn Whitaker, London Independent Books, 26 Chalcot Crescent, London NW1 8YD, England. Full-time writer. Smarties Book Prize, 2001, Horn Book Notable Book designation, School Library Jou…
Born 1951, in Somerville, NJ; Education: Attended Adelphi University, 1970–71, and Boston University, 1971–72. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Holiday House, 425 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10017. Writer. Worked variously as a janitor, gardener, baker, window decorator, ice-cream truck driver, storyteller, and library aide; owner of toy, clothing, and miscellany store in Clinton, NJ. De…
1971– Poet, musician Scott Woods, a prolific author and editor of more then ten volumes of poetry and prose and the producer of numerous spoken-word and music CDs, is especially well known for slam poetry. He first discovered slam poetry in 1998, and by 2002 he was on the Executive Council of Poetry Slam, Inc. (PSI), a non-profit organization that oversees the National Poetry Slam—No…
1962— Corporate executive Woods, Jacqueline, photograph. AP/Wide World Photos. As vice president for global marketing and pricing at software giant Oracle, Jacqueline Woods has been responsible for guiding the company through a rapidly changing market for database sales and licensing. Database licensing is considered by IT industry executives to be one of the most complex and challen…
Born 1957; Hobbies and other interests: Agent—c/o Author Mail, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 19 Union Square W., New York, NY 10003. Writer. Attica Public Library, Lafayette, IN, part-time librarian. When Ratboy Lived Next Door, Farrar, Straus & Giroux (New York, NY), 2005. Georgie's Moon, Farrar, Straus & Giroux (New York, NY), 2006. It took Indiana writer Chris Woodworth nearly two year…
Born 1976, in Warwickshire, England. Education: Cambridge University, graduated; postgraduate study in journalism. Hobbies and other interests: Music, theatre. Agent—c/o Rod Hall Agency Limited, 6th Fl., Fairgate House, 78 New Oxford St., London WC1A 1HB, England. Journalist and author. Vogue magazine, London, England, member of staff; freelance writer. Avril Crump and Her Amazing Clones, E…
(Jane Thayer) OBITUARY NOTICE—See index for SATA sketch: Born August 11, 1904, in Chicago, IL; died July 23, 2005, in Truro, MA. Author. Woolley was a prolific author of children's books written under her name and the pseudonym Jane Thayer. A 1927 graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles, she worked as an advertising copywriter and freelance writer in New York City dur…
Born 1969, in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; died April 30, 2004, in Australia; Education: University of South Australia, B. A. (graphic design), 1990. Illustrator. ERA Publications, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, production staff member, 1990-2004. Picture Book of the Year citation, 1995, for The Watertower, and Notable Book selections, 1995, for Peter and the Polar Bear, 1996, for …
Born 1955, in Gainsborough, England; Education: Attended state school; studied painting and linoleum cutting with father, John Wormell. Agent—The Artworks, 70 Rosaline Rd., London SW6 7QT, England. Freelance illustrator in advertising, design, editorial, and children's books, London, England, 1984—. Exhibitions: Solo exhibitions include Victoria and Albert Museum, London, Engl…
1961— Basketball player Worthy, James, photograph. Mark Mainz/Getty Images. In 12 years with the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team, "Big Game" James Worthy was known for his ability to maneuver around opposing players at a dizzying pace. "I just decide I'm going to go around [a defensive opponent] when I'm setting up and when I get the ball, I go,&…
(Avi, Avi Wortis) Born 1937, in New York, NY; stepEducation: Attended Antioch University; University of Wisconsin—Madison, B.A., 1959, M.A., 1962; Columbia University, M.S.L.S., 1964. Hobbies and other interests: Photography. Edward Wortis Agent—Dorothy Markinko, McIntosh & Otis, Inc., 475 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10017. Writer, 1960—. New York Public Library, Ne…
Born 1963, in Newhaven, England; Education: University of Brighton, B.A. (honors), 1986. Children's book writer and illustrator. Commercial artist; conducts "Art of Seeing" workshop. Greenpeace. When the World Sleeps, Hutchinson (London, England), 1989. Crumbs!, Hutchinson (London, England), 1990. The Tangleweed Troll, Gollancz (London, England), 1993. (With Miriam Moss) Henry…
1923–2005 Minister, scholar, civil rights activist, writer An Episcopalian minister, a scholar, a poet, and the author of 18 books, Dr. Nathan Wright Jr. was a leading advocate of the black power movement. Although Wright claimed to be ideologically close to Stokely Carmichael and H. Rap Brown, leaders of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and even Malcolm X, he was a pac…
1918-2005 New York State Supreme Court justice, writer "Black judges in this country are a very lonely caucus," New York State Supreme Court justice Bruce McMarion Wright told Les Payne in a 1991 interview for Essence. A highly controversial figure dubbed "Turn-Em-Loose Bruce" during his career on the bench of New York City's criminal court, Wright devoted his li…
Nationality: American. Born: New Franklin, Missouri, 1932. Educated in public schools in New Franklin and Sedalia, Missouri. Military Service: Served in the United States Army, in Korea, 1952-54. Career: Stockboy in St. Louis, late 1950s; then freelance writer: columnist ("Wright's World"), Village Voice, New York. Lives in New York City. (1972) Numbers. One number has always…
1966— Actor Wright, Jeffrey, photograph. Brad Barket/Getty Images. Jeffrey Wright has established himself as one of the most respected and versatile character actors of his generation. Equally at home on the stage or on screen, he has performed in roles ranging from mobster to artist to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Born in Washington, D.C., on December 7, 1965, Wright was raised t…
Born 1961, in California; Education: Stanford University, B.S. (electrical engineering), 1983, M.S. (engineering science), 1985; graduate study at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. office—Norbert Wu Photography, 1065 Sinex Ave., Pacific Grove, CA 93950. Diver, photographer, cinematographer, and writer. Cousteau Society, chief still photographer on Jacques Cousteau's Calypso; Smit…
Born 1943, in Los Angeles, CA; Education: University of California, Los Angeles, B.A., 1965, teaching credential, 1967. Politics: "Confused liberal." Religion: "Even more confused." Hobbies and other interests: Animals, sports, daydreaming. Agent—Susan Cohen, Writers House, 21 West 26th St., New York, NY, 10010. Writer. Teacher of English, creative writing, and …
Nationality: American. Born: 1937. Awards: Atlantic Firsts award, 1966. Rudolph Wurlitzer's novels represent a determined attempt to escape the materials of narrative. Unwilling to suspend disbelief and create a representative world of people, places, and ideals, he discards the conventions of mimetic storytelling in favor of a flat-out style of direct address which in his later novels slo…
1924– Labor leader, civil rights pioneer, pastor The first female board member of the United Packinghouse Food and Alliance Workers Union, Addie L. Wyatt was elected vice president of Local 56 in 1953. During her 30-year career as a labor leader Wyatt fought for equality as a campaigner for women's rights in the workplace and as an active protester alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr…
Nationality: American. Born: Chicago, Illinois, 1927. Education: Fieldston School, graduated 1944; Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, 1944-48, B.A. (summa cum laude) 1948 (Phi Beta Kappa). Military Service: Served in the United States Navy, 1945-46. Career: Since 1968 member of the Department of English, currently professor of English, and since 1981 Director of General Studies, Colorado Col…
Nationality: American. Born: Ho'olchua, Molokai, Hawaii, 1961. Education: University of Hawaii at Manoa, B.Ed. 1983, M.Ed. 1987. Career: Language arts resource teacher and English teacher, Hawaii Department of Education; writer. Lives in Honolulu, Hawaii. Awards: Pushcart prize, 1993; Elliot Cades award for literature, 1993; Asian American Studies National Book award, 1994 (prize revoked); …
Born 1961, in Ho'olchua, Moloka'i, HI; Education: University of Hawaii at Manoa, B.Ed., 1983, M.Ed., 1987. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 19 Union Square W., New York, NY 10001. Writer. Hawaii Department of Education, language arts resource teacher and English teacher. National Endowment for the Humanities grant, 1990; Pushcart Prize for Poetry, 1993, f…
Born 1960, in Taiwan; immigrated to United States, 1967. Education: Attended Stirling University (Scotland); University of California, Santa Cruz, B.S. (biology; with honors); attended Pasadena Art Center College of Design; attended Beijing Institute of Traditional Chinese Painting, 1986–89. Agent—Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency, 1155 Camino Del Mar, PMB 515, Del Mar, CA 92014. Chil…
1971— Actor Yarbrough, Cedric, photograph. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images. A talented comic actor with a flair for improvisation, Cedric Yarbrough is best known for his role as Deputy S. Jones in the reality cop show parody Reno 911! Debuting in 2003 the improvised show became an instant hit for cable network Comedy Central and has been compared favorably with the hit BBC offering The …
1977- Athlete, activist Saddled with a useless right leg, abandoned by his father, orphaned by his mother's death, and living in a country where physical deformities have traditionally been considered a curse, Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah faced odds that would intimidate any Westerner. The best a disabled Ghanaian could hope for in a country with an annual income of less than $500 was to eek out a…
Born 1959, in Los Angeles, CA; Ethnicity: "Chinese" Education: University of Southern California, B.A. (English and humanities). Hobbies and other interests: "Making strange things out of junk" Agent—c/o Jodi Reamer, Writers House, 21 W. 26th St., New York, NY 10010. Writer and entrepreneur. Workshop West (creative think tank), Beverly Hills, CA, former associat…
Nationality: American. Born: Helen Bassine in New York City, 1915. Career: Literary editor, the Nation, New York, 1965-69; Visiting Professor, Columbia University School of the Arts, New York, 1973, and University of Iowa Writers Workshop, Iowa City, 1980. Awards: Houghton Mifflin Literary fellowship, 1972. LHD: University of Maine, 1996. The novels of Helen Yglesias were written from her 54th ye…
Jane Yolen St. Andrews, Fife KY16 9LN, Scotland. Agent—Elizabeth Harding Curtis Brown Ltd., 10 Astor Place, New York, NY 10003. The Witch Who Wasn't, illustrated by Arnold Roth, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1964. Gwinellen, the Princess Who Could Not Sleep, illustrated by Ed Renfro, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1965. The Emperor and the Kite, illustrated by Ed Young, World Publish…
Born 1959, in Ithaca, NY; Education: Syracuse University, B.S. (education), 1981. Politics: Democrat. Agent—Faye Bender, Faye Bender Literary Agency, 337 W. 76th St., No. E1, New York, NY 10023. Scholastic News, New York, NY, writer and assistant then associate editor, 1981–83; freelance writer and editor, 1983–. Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Auth…
1932— Politician, civil rights activist Young, Andrew, photograph. © 1989 Landov LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduced by permission. As a civil rights activist in the turbulent 1960s and one of Martin Luther King Jr.'s most trusted lieutenants, Andrew Young earned a reputation for tact and diplomacy. As an outspoken ambassador to the United Nations (UN) under the admini…
See index for SATA sketch: Born May 17, 1912, in Northwich, Cheshire, England; died May 9, 2004, in York, England. Educator, composer, musician, and author. Young was a scholar of music history who served as director of music at the Wolverhampton College of Technology and was also an authority on Edward Elgar and an accomplished composer in his own right. A graduate of Selwyn College, Cambridge, w…
Born 1955, in East Orange, NJ; Education: University of Tulsa, B.F.A., 1978, M.A., 1980. Hobbies and other interests: Hunting, fishing, training bird dogs, skeet shooting, hiking, travel, and camping. Artist and illustrator, 1980—. Exhibitions: Pittsfield Art Museum, Pittsfield, MA, 1983; Southeast Arkansas Arts and Science Museum, Pine Bluff, AR, 1985; Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Waus…
Nationality: American. Born: Ocean Springs, Mississippi, 1939. Education: The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (co-editor, Generation magazine), 1957-61; Stanford University, California (Stegner Creative Writing fellow), 1966-67; University of California, Berkeley, A.B. in Spanish 1969. Career: Freelance musician, 1958-64; disc jockey, KJAZ-FM, Alameda, California, 1961-65; instructor and linguis…
Born 1956, in Springfield, MO; Education: University of Tulsa, B.S., 1978, M.A., 1980. Hobbies and other interests: Hiking, camping, traveling, reading, fishing. Speech and language pathologist, 1980—; writer, 1996—. Workshop presenter in schools and for professional organizations. National Federation of State Poetry Societies, Missouri Writers Guild, Missouri State Poetry Society (y…
1948-2005 Boxer Young, Jimmy, photograph. © Corbis. The 1970s have gone down in boxing history as the golden age of the heavyweights. Muhammad Ali was in the midst of his lock on the heavyweight championship title. George Foreman was a force to be feared. Boxing matches were glamorous, primetime events grabbing the adoration of fans, celebrities, and the general public. Smack in the mi…
Born 1959, in Tokyo, Japan. Education: Tokyo University of Music, degree in composition. Agent—Japan Foregin Rights Centre, 2-27-18 Nakaochiai 2-chome, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 161-0032, Japan. Writer. Batchelder award and Boston Globe-Horn Book award for fiction, both 1997, both for The Friends. The Friends, translated from the Japanese by Cathy Hirano, Farrar, Straus & Giroux (New York, NY), 19…
Nationality: American. Born: New York City, 1925. Education: New York University, A.B. 1950; Brooklyn College, New York, M.A. 1961. Military Service: Served in the United States Army, 1944-45. Career: Librarian, New York University, 1945-53; social investigator, New York City Department of Welfare, 1954-59. Since 1959 fulltime writer. Lives in Brooklyn, New York. Awards: Guggenheim fellowship, 197…
Born 1946, in San Diego, CA; Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: San Diego State University, M.A. (English; with distinction), 1985. Hobbies and other interests: Sports, biking, reading, family activities. Office—Department of English, Palomar College, 1140 West Mission Rd., San Marcos, CA 92069. West Coast director of a foreign-student study program, 1981-87; Palomar College,…
Born 1951, in Chicago, IL; Education: Michigan State University, B.A., 1973; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, M.A., 1975, further graduate study, 1975-80. Hobbies and other interests: Classical music (particularly nineteenth-century Romantic era), crossword puzzles, martial arts. Agent—Russell Galen, Scovil, Chichak, Galen Literary Agency, 381 Park Ave. S., Suite 1020, New York, …
Born 1950, in New York, NY; Education: Queens College of the City University of New York, B.A., 1971; Pratt Institute Graphic Center, graduate study in lithography, 1971–72. Religion: Jewish. Hobbies and other interests: Travel, gardening, gourmet cooking, pets. Agent—Elizabeth Harding, Curtis Brown Ltd., 10 Astor Pl., New York, NY 10003. Dial Press, New York, NY, assistant to art d…
Born near Chicago, IL; three children. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 255 Jefferson SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Writer and educator. Worked previously as a middle-school teacher. Erika's Story was listed among the Year's Best books in the Miami Herald, and received best books citations in Germany. 6,000,000 Stars, illustrated by Roberto Innocenti, Cr…
Born 1953, in Evanston, IL; Education: Yale University, B.A., 1974; Tyler School of Art, M.F.A., 1976. Hobbies and other interests: Cooking, eating. Office—54 Orange St., Brooklyn, NY 11201. Artist, author, and illustrator of books for children, 1977—. Graphic Artists Guild, Children's Illustrators and Authors, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Best B…
(Kaethe Zemach-Bersin) Born 1958, in Boston, MA; marriage ended); Education: Attended schools in England, Denmark, and the United States. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Little, Brown and Co., 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020. Artist and writer. Children's Book of the Year award, Child Study Association, 1975, and Children's Book Showcase citation, 1976, both for The Pri…
Born 1947, in Gottwaldov, Czechoslovakia (now Zlín, Czech Republic); immigrated to Canada, 1984; became Canadian citizen, 1988; daughter of Karel Ludmila Zeman Zeman (a filmmaker); Education: Attended art school in Czechoslovakia, and Palacky University. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Tundra Books of Northern New York, P.O. Box 1030, Plattsburgh, NY 12901. Filmmaker, illustrator, animat…
Surname is pronounced "Jung"; born 1942, in Shanghai, China; immigrated to Canada, 1989; nationalized Canadian citizen, 1995; Education: Central Institute of Fine Arts (Beijing, China), undergraduate degree, 1964, graduate degree, 1980; attended École Superieure National des Beaux-Arts (Paris, France), 1984–85. Hobbies and other interests: Cooking, reading, traveling. A…
Born 1941, in New Jersey. Education: Smith College, B.A.; New York University, M.A. (education). Office—Blue Apple Books, 515 South Valley St., Maple-wood, NJ 07040. Writer and book packager, 1983—. Elementary school teacher; Scholastic publishers, New York, NY, school materials developer. New Jersey Institute of Technology Award, 1987, for Sarah's Questions and The Small Pota…
Born 1970, in New York, NY; Education: Attended Colby College and University of Arizona. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Warner Books, 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020. Novelist. 17th Street Productions, New York, NY, former editor. Gossip Girl, Little, Brown (Boston, MA), 2002. You Know You Love Me, Little, Brown (Boston, MA), 2002. Cecily von Ziegesar All I Want Is Everything, Littl…
Born 0027;s name Randy; Education: Ohio State University, degree (special education); Miami University of Ohio, M.A. (reading). Hobbies and other interests: Reading, gardening, managing her Web site. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Clarion Books, 215 Park Ave. S, New York, NY 10003. Educator and writer. Teacher in Ohio public schools for ten years; instructor at community colleges; speaker at schoo…
See index for SATA sketch: Born August 2, 1914, in St. Louis, MO; died of heart failure October 21, 2004, in Chicago, IL. Social worker, therapist, and author. Zimmerman was a leading family therapist who also published several children's books. A graduate of the University of Chicago, where she earned a B.A. in 1935 and an M.A. in social service in 1940, her first job as a social worker wa…
Sociologist Maxine Baca Zinn has been pivotal in incorporating the experiences of Hispanics into mainstream sociological thought. She has become a leading expert in the fields of family, gender, and ethnicity. Part of an elite group of female sociologists, Baca Zinn has changed the face of feminism by introducing the experiences of women of color to conventional perspectives on gender. She has ded…
1977— Activist Though Princess Kasune Zulu is not technically a member of Zambian royalty, she has emerged as one of Africa's most prominent activists in combating the scourge of acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS. Both of Zulu's parents and two of her siblings were felled by the deadly pandemic, which has swept swiftly through sub-Saharan Africa since it was first d…
Born 1975, in Sydney, Australia; married. Agent—c/o Publicity Department, Pan Macmillan Australia, Level 18, St Martin's Tower, 31 Market St., Sydney, New South Wales 2000, Australia. Writer; formerly a janitor and a high school English teacher. Older Readers Honor Book of the Year, Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA), 2001, for Fighting Ruben Wolfe; Older Readers Hono…