Nationality: British. Born: Woking, Surrey, 1936. Education: Balham Secondary School, London. Military Service: Served in the Royal Air Force, 1955-57. Career: Since 1958, staff member, Reuters news agency, London; reporter, 1965-70, and senior editor, 1974-94, Central Office of Information, London. Northern Arts Fellow, universities of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Durham, 1970-72. I have no general s…
Nationality: British. Born: Lincolnshire, 1931. Education: A boarding school in Shropshire and at Runton Hill School, Norfolk. Career: Literary agent, Anthony Blond Ltd., London, 1952-57. Awards: W.H. Smith Literary award, 1981. Hon. M.A.: University of Bath, 1988. Fellow, Royal Society of Literature, 1981. Agent: Peters Fraser and Dunlop, 503-504 The Chambers, Chelsea Harbour, Lots Road, London S…
Nationality: Northern Irish. Born: County Cavan, Northern Ireland. Career: Screenwriter, actor, and producer for both film and television, 1980s—. Much of Shane Connaughton's writing is concerned with the notion of boundaries or borders, and interest in these artificial constructs is reflected in the titles of two of his works, A Border Station and A Border Diary. Considering that Co…
Nationality: American. Born: Atlanta, Georgia, 1945. Education: The Citadel, B.A. 1967. Career: High school teacher, Beaufort, South Carolina, 1967-69; elementary schoolteacher, Daufuskie, South Carolina, 1969. Awards: Anisfield-Wolf award (Cleveland Foundation), 1972; National Endowment for the Arts award for achievement in education, 1974; Georgia Governor's award for Arts, 1978; Lillian …
Nationality: British. Born: Preston, Lancashire, 1940. Education: The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London, 1959-61. Career: Since 1961 professional actor. Writer-in-residence, St. Martin's College, Lancaster, 1982-83. Awards: Writers Guild award, 1977; American Academy E.M. Forster award, 1977; Hawthornden prize, 1978; Arts Council bursary, 1979; Southern Arts prize, 1985; Arthur Welton s…
Pseudonym: Harry Summerfield Hoff. Nationality: British. Born: Crewe, Cheshire, 1910. Education: Christ's College, Cambridge, M.A. in physics 1933. Military Service: Served in the Royal Air Force, 1940-45. Career: Schoolmaster, Leicester, 1933-40; assistant commissioner, Civil Service Commission, London, 1945-58. Part-time personnel consultant, United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, 1958-7…
Born in England. Education: London University, M.A. (education). United Kingdom Year of Literature festival, Swansea, Wales, coordinator, 1995; WORDPLAY children's festival, organizer, 1995–; Book House Training Centre, director of course on children's publishing, 1995–; Disney Consumer Products, director of course on children's publishing, 1997; National Literac…
Nationality: American. Born: Charles City, Iowa, 1932. Education: Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, 1949-51; Indiana University, Bloomington, B.A. 1953; University of Chicago, 1958-61, M.A. 1965. Military Service: Served in the United States Naval Reserve, 1953-57: Lieutenant. Career: Taught at Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, 1966-67, University of Iowa, Iowa City, 1967-69, Co…
Born 1963, in London, England; Education: Attended Royal Academy of Music. Politics: Labor Party. Religion: Church of England (Anglican). Hobbies and other interests: Playing piano, classical and lounge music; Americana, especially roadside graphics, mini golf, eggs, all things small and beautiful. Office—c/o Transworld Publishers, 61-63 Oxbridge Rd., London W5 5SA, England. Agent—Hi…
Nationality: Canadian. Born: Baden-Soellingen, Germany, 1961. Education: Attended Emily Carr College of Art and Design, Vancouver, Canada; completed a two-year course in Japanese business science, Hawaii, 1986. Career: Writer, sculptor, and editor. Host of The Search for Generation X (documentary), PBS, 1991. Lives in Vancouver. Douglas Coupland emerged in the 1990s as a novelist who seemed to cap…
Born 0027;s name Lisa; Ethnicity: "Argentine." Agent—c/o Author Mail, Viking, Penguin Putnam, 375 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014. Comic-book writer and illustrator, author, and toymaker. U.F.O. (Unidentified Fun Object) Toys, founder and designer; creator figurines, including Black Terror, Kaiju Kids, Honk-Honk-Ashoo, and Funboy. The Story of Honk-Honk-Ashoo and Swella-Bow-Wo…
Born 1938, in Birstall, Leicestershire, England; Education: Attended Dudley Training College. Hobbies and other interests: Walking, reading, horseback riding, theater-going, "looking after my rabbit." Agent—c/o Author Mail, Walker Books, 87 Vauxhall Walk, London SE11 5HJ, England. Worked as a teacher in Leicestershire, England, 1960–90, Yorkshire, England, 1962–6…
Nationality: Australian. Born: Perth, Western Australia, 1914. Education: The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, B.A. in English 1940, Dip. Ed. 1946. Military Service: Served in the Royal Australian Air Force, 1943-45. Career: Clerk, farm labourer, and casual worker, 1930-39; teacher, 1941-42; member of the faculty, University of Western Australia, 1946-50; Senior English Master, Scotch Co…
Nationality: British. Born: Brocket Hall, Lemsford, Hertfordshire, 1946. Education: Enfield Grammar School, Middlesex, 1957-64; Birmingham College of Commerce, 1965-68; University of London (external), B.A. (honours) in English 1968. Career: Volunteer in educational television, Voluntary Service Overseas, Khartoum, Sudan, 1968-69; freelance journalist and writer, 1972-86; since 1986 full-time nove…
Nationality: American. Born: Alma, Georgia, 1935. Education: The University of Florida, Gainesville, B.A. 1960, M.S.Ed. 1962. Military Service: Served in the United States Marine Corps, 1953-56: Sergeant. Career: English teacher, Broward Junior College, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 1962-68. Associate professor, 1968-74, and since 1974 professor of English, University of Florida. Awards: Bread Loaf Wr…
Born 1960, in York, England; Education: Massey University, diploma, 1980; Victoria University, M.A., 1983. Hobbies and other interests: Painting, swimming. Freelance illustrator, 1981-2003; Weta Workshop, Wellington, New Zealand, staff writer, 2003—. New Zealand Illustrators' Guild (president, 1998-2001), New Zealand Writers Guild, New Zealand Society of Authors. (Self-illustrated) F…
Born 1952, in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada; Education: University of Western Ontario, B.A.; Slade School of Fine Art, London, England, Dip.Ad.; Royal College of Art, London, M.A. Agent—Caroline Walsh, David Higham Associates, 5-8 Lower John St., Golden Square, London W1F 9HA, England. Freelance cinematographer and director for films and television, 1980—; writer. Ella and the Naug…
Female; Education: Trinity College, Cambridge, M.A. (history). Agent—A. P. Watt, 20 John St., London WC2, England. Writer and journalist. A Great Task of Happiness: The Life of Kathleen Scott (biography), Macmillan (London, England), 1995. Baby Love (novel), Flamingo (London, England), 1997. Desiring Cairo (novel; sequel to Baby Love), Flamingo (London, England), 1999. Tree of Pearls (novel…
Born 1943, in Galveston, TX; Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: Principia College, B.A., 1965; Webster University, M.A.T., 1984. Politics: Independent. Religion: Christian Scientist. Hobbies and other interests: Nature education. Worked at Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 1965, and Girl Scouts of Nations, Capital Council, 1966; nursery school teacher in Monrovia, IN, 1972-81;…
Born 1942, in New York, NY; Education: Attended Hofstra College (now Hofstra University), 1959–62. Hobbies and other interests: "I like to cook, do crossword puzzles, watch old movies, and play Scrabble. I compete in crossword puzzle and Scrabble tournaments. I love to read, especially mysteries, cookbooks, and popular history, sociology, and psychology." Agent—McIntosh…
(Charles Williams) Born 1928, in New York, NY; Education: Hamilton College, A.B., 1950. Hobbies and other interests: "I have been deeply involved in jazz from youth and continue to work as a jazz musician regularly." Agent—c/o William Deiss, John Hawkins and Associates, 71 W. 23rd St., New York, NY 10010. Writer. Magazine editor, 1952–58. Military service: U.S. Army, 19…
1935— Poet, educator An underappreciated figure of the Black Arts movement of the 1960s and 1970s, poet Sam Cornish wrote about the urban African-American experience in a voice just as tough and realistic as that of any other black poet of the time. His poems, however, replace the enthusiastic self-expression and the experimental African-American idioms of much modern black poetry with a te…
1951— Journalist, writer Ellis Cose was a Chicago newspaper columnist before he was old enough to vote, and from that brilliant beginning has gone on to build successful careers in three related fields. A respected journalist, Cose has worked as reporter and columnist for several major newspapers and went on to become editor of the New York Daily News's editorial page and contributin…
(Michael Greatrex Coney, Mike Coney) OBITUARY NOTICE—See index for SATA sketch: Born September 28, 1932, in Birmingham, England; died of lung cancer November 4, 2005, in Saanichton, British Columbia, Canada. Accountant, hotelkeeper, government official, and author. Coney worked a variety of jobs in his lifetime, but is remembered by readers as a science-fiction novelist and winner of the Br…
Born 1949, in Jersey, Channel Islands, England; Education: Canterbury College of Art, B.A. (with honors), 1974. Hobbies and other interests: Breeding show horses, riding side saddle, sailing. Author and illustrator of children's books, 1973—. Exhibitions: Work exhibited at Bologna International Children's Book Fair, 1985-89; and Salon International du Livre, Switzerland, 1988.…
(Robyn Tallis) Born 1950, in Syracuse, NY; Education: Attended Duke University and State University of New York at Binghamton; State University of New York at Oswego, B.A., 1974. Politics: "Eclectic." Religion: Unitarian. Agent—Ashley Grayson, 1342 18th Street, San Pedro, CA 90732. Author. Wetzel Road Elementary, Liverpool, NY, teacher, 1974-81; Full Cast Audio, Syracuse, NY, …
Born 1959, in Lancaster, PA; Education: University of Maryland, B.S., 1984. office—K. Michael Crawford Studio, 7534 Cherry Tree Dr., Fulton, MD 20759. Illustrator of books and educational products; freelance illustrator for Special Olympics, Disney, Scholastic, and Hanna Barbera. Exhibitions: Works have been exhibited throughout the United States. Society of Children's Book Writers …
1948-2005 Singer As the most commercially successful member of James Brown's Revue, Lyn Collins became a funk diva well before either word had much meaning. Her song "Think (About It)" topped the charts in 1972 and inspired a generation of sample-happy hip-hoppers in the 1990s. Yet, despite her talent and success, her name has barely registered on the country's musical …
Poet, writer, artist, and illustrator; has artwork in permanent and private collections in the U.S. and Japan. Worcester Art Museum, member of faculty; teaches workshops in creativity, writing, and life drawing; gives readings; visits schools as guest author. Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Authors Guild, PEN New England. My Friend Andrew, illustrated by Howard Berelson…
Born 1952, in Baltimore, MD; Education: Washington College, B.A., 1974. Hobbies and other interests: Birds, beachcombing, collecting old books, walking in the woods. Success for All Foundation, Baltimore, MD, Curriculum developer for adolescent literacy programs; former curriculum developer for Baltimore Curriculum Project. Worked variously as a freelance writer and editor, a researcher for a huma…
Born 1918, in Tacoma, WA; Education: Attended University of Washington, 1936-39. Politics: Democrat. Religion: Jewish. Agent—McIntosh and Otis, Inc., 310 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10017. Children's book author. Only Jane, illustrated by Velma Ilsley, Thomas Nelson (New York, NY), 1960. Too Many Girls, Thomas Nelson (New York, NY), 1960. Molly Cone The Trouble with Toby, illus…
Bert Corona: 1918-2001: Labor organizer. Bert Corona, a longtime leader in Latino civil-rights circles, died in early 2001 after nearly seventy years of public service. Following a career as a union organizer, Corona served for many years as executive director of La Hermandad Mexicana Nacional, a Latino organization in the Los Angeles area that fought on behalf of undocumented Mexicans and oth…
Office—c/o Author Mail, Margaret K. McElderry Books, Simon & Schuster, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020. Writer. Sunday Times, London, England, reporter and feature writer, 1956-63. Society of Authors (United Kingdom), Authors League of America, Authors Guild, Writers Guild of America, Dramatists Guild, PEN. Over Sea, Under Stone, illustrated by Margery Gill, J. Cape (…
Born 1977, in NJ. Education: Sarah Lawrence College, B.A.; New York University, M.A. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Scholastic, Inc., 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012. Writer. You Remind Me of You: A Poetry Memoir, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002. Splintering (verse novel), Scholastic (New York, NY), 2004. New Jersey native Eireann Corrigan began writing poetry as a child, and when her older brothe…
Born 1947, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Education: Attended Queensland Institute of Technology; University of Queensland, Diploma (civil engineering drafting), 1970, B.A., 1979, M.A., 1984. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Lothian Books, 11 Munro St., Port Melbourne, Victoria 3207, Australia. Writer for children and young adults, 1985—. McDonald, Wagner, and Priddle, Brisbane, Queenslan…
Willie Colón: 1950—: Salsa performer, producer, composer, activist. Willie Colón was one of the founders of the jazz-inflected Latin American dance music known as salsa. In the words of the Los Angeles Times, he was "the unifier, the alche-mist, [and] the enabler" of the rhythmic salsa style. An unusually multitalented musician, Colón became a star him…
Lucha Corpi: 1945—: Poet, novelist. Lucha Corpi has never viewed art and politics as two separate disciplines, but has infused her poetry, short stories, and novels with her experiences as a Hispanic, an immigrant, and as a woman. "I never intended to be a political writer," she told Karin Rosa Ikas in Chicana Ways, "I wrote about what I wanted to write, and I never…
1960— Liberian rebel leader As leader of the rebel group Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), Sekou Damate Conneh Jr. takes credit for bringing about the removal of dictator Charles Taylor from his position as president of Liberia. Taylor's resignation on August 11, 2003, came after 13 years of civil war. Taylor left office for exile in Nigeria only when LURD for…
First name is pronounced "Ow-en"; born 1965, in Wexford, Ireland; Education: Teacher's training course, Dublin, Ireland, graduated 1986. Hobbies and other interests: Reading, theater, parachuting. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Hyperion Books, 77 West 66th St., 11th Fl., New York, NY 10023. Writer. Primary school teacher, 1987-2001. White Raven Award, 1998, for Benny and Omar; …
1947– Professional football coach Crennel, Romeo, photograph. Ron Kuntz/Reuters/Landov. With a lifetime of football experience and a spirit of persistence forged during a pioneering coaching career in the Deep South, Romeo Crennel seemed a promising choice to lead the faltering Cleveland Browns National Football League franchise when he was named head coach in 2005. Crennel had alrea…
Name is accented on second syllable; born 1951, in Miles City, MT; Education: University of Montana, B.A. (with high honors). Politics: Democrat. Religion: Episcopalian. Agent—Paige Gillies, 231 Judd Rd., Easton, CT 06612-1025. Children's book illustrator. Chico Chism Chicago Blues Band, bass player. Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Debbie Driscoll, Three T…
1926-1984 Professional basketball pioneer The man who officially integrated professional basketball when he was drafted by the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in April of 1950, Chuck Cooper was a modest figure who specialized in offensive team play and generally stayed away from the spotlight. Like other early African-American players in the NBA, his experiences in the …
1954— Martial arts master and teacher Through a lifetime of hard work, Michael Copeland has become both an example and a teacher of what can be accomplished when desire is combined with determination. Beginning as a young boy trying to find a way to protect himself from the attacks of older boys, Copeland devoted his life to the study of Asian arts of self-defense. In the process, he not on…
Male. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Atheneum, Simon & Schuster, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020. Artist and illustrator. Also works as a freelance commercial artist. Silver Medal, and Gold Medal, Society of Illustrators. (And illustrator) Orson Blasts Off!, Atheneum Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 2004. Sharon Dennis Wyeth, Always My Dad, Knopf (New York, NY), 1995.…
Born 1944, in Denver, CO; Education: University of Michigan, A.B. (with distinction), 1966; Johns Hopkins University, M.A.T., 1967; University of Oklahoma, postgraduate work, 1977; New York University, book publishing program certificate, 1980. Hobbies and other interests: "Exploring cemeteries to find graves of historic people I write about; kayaking; going to every type of bookstore, espe…
Born 1954, in San Francisco, CA; Education: Lewis-Clark State College, B.A., 1979; Northern Arizona University, M.A., 1984. Politics: Democrat. Religion: Presbyterian. Hobbies and other interests: Music, bird watching, reading, playing bass guitar. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Holiday House, 425 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10017. Welches School District, Welches, OR, teacher, 1985-92; West Linn-W…
Born 1947, in Norfolk, VA; Ethnicity: "Scottish/Cherokee/English." Education: Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, B.A. (anthropology/zoology), 1976; Simmons School of Social Work, M.S.W., 1978; graduate study at Brandeis University, 1987, and at University of New Hampshire Family Research Laboratory. Cryptozoologist, filmmaker, educator, and author. Worked in mental-health fiel…
Born 1948, in VA; Education: Smith College, bachelor's degree, 1971; graduate of Johns Hopkins University writing seminars program, 1974. Hobbies and other interests: Gardening, cooking, reading, fishing, camping, canoeing, listening to jazz. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Henry Holt & Co., 115 West 18th St., New York, NY 10011. Writer. Has also worked as a director of a community center…
(Cassia Joy Cowley) Born 1936; Religion: Roman Catholic. Hobbies and other interests: Spinning, fishing, "other soothing pastimes." Writer, 1967–. Pharmacists' apprentice in New Zealand, 1953–56. New Zealand Buckland Literary Award, 1970, for Man of Straw; New Zealand Literary Achievement Award, 1980; New Zealand AIM Children's Book Awards, Joy Cowley198…
(Ann Cooke) Born 1944, in Newark, NJ; Education: Attended University of Massachusetts at Amherst and Indiana University—Bloomington; City College of New York (now of the City University of New York), B.A., 1967. Office—c/o Scholastic, Inc., 555 Broadway, New York, NY 10012-3999. New York City Board of Education, New York, NY, elementary school librarian and instructor, 1967–68…
OBITUARY NOTICE—See index for SATA sketch: Born July 11, 1934, in Nottingham, England; died of cancer, September 26, 2005, in Eakring, Nottinghamshire, England. Author. Cresswell was an award-winning children's author known for her works of fantasy and humor for all ages, including the popular "Bagthorpe" books. Interested in writing from an early age, she enjoyed poetr…
Born 1945, in Denver, CO; Education: Earned M.S. (education), 1986. Hobbies and other interests: Golf, watercolor, biking, travel. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Chelsea House, 2080 Cabot Blvd. West, Suite 201, Langhome, PA 19047. Teacher and author. Teacher in Waynesville, MO, 1998-2001; Drury University, Springfield, MO, instructor, 2001-03. Lecturer. Missouri Writers Guild (vice president, 2001…
Born 1950, in Kent, England; Education: Attended Royal Leamington Art School. Hobbies and other interests: Completing triathalons (swimming, biking, and running). Agent—c/o Author Mail, Star Bright Books, 325 West 38th St., New York, NY 10018. Children's book author and illustrator. Active on behalf of Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Seal Research Unit. Muralist and car…
Born 1963, in Frankfurt, Germany; Education: Yale University, B.A., 1985. Office—c/o Greenwillow Books, 1350 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019. Author and illustrator of children's books, and animator. Freelance animation artist/coordinator, 1986-94, and illustrator, 1991—. Ink Tank (animation studio), New York, NY, producer, 1995-97. One Hot Summer Day, Greenwillow …
1949– Historian Crew, Spencer, photograph. AP/Wide World Photos. A highly-respected historian of the black American experience, Dr. Spencer R. Crew's innovative museum exhibits have brought new life to American history. He is perhaps best known for his study of the Great Migration—the massive movement of Southern blacks to Northern cities in the early twentieth century. Crew w…
195(?)— Women's health advocate, association executive Much of Lorraine Cole's professional life has been devoted to the service of people, causes, and not-for-profit organizations. Inspired by the strength, integrity, and creativity of her mother and father, she not only became the first in her family to finish college, but she also earned her doctorate and went on to hold hi…
1946— Poet, critic Coleman, Wanda, photograph. © Christopher Felver/Corbis. "Others often use the word 'uncompromising' to describe my work," poet Wanda Coleman told Contemporary Poets. "I find that quite pleasing." Coleman, who has claimed to be the most prolific African-American poet of all time, has written thousands of poems and ha…
1951— College dean, physician Dr. PonJola Coney serves as the dean of the School of Medicine at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. Meharry is a respected professional training ground among historically black colleges in America, and Coney is one of just a handful of women to head a medical school in the United States. Born on New Year's Eve in 1951, Coney was one of sev…
Born 1968, in Silver Spring, MD. Education: Graduated from Barnard College. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, 4th Fl., New York, NY 10020. Writer. Author's Guild. American Library Association (ALA) Best Book for Young Adults selection, and New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age selection, both 2003, and Int…
In Lisa Broadie Cook's Martin MacGregor's Snowman, a young boy who holds the record for making the largest snowman in town is forced to hone his snowman-making skills with substitute materials when the real show refuses to fall. (Illustration by Adam McCauley.) Female. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Walker & Company, 104 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10011. Teacher and writer…
Born 1971, in Bedfordshire, England. Education: Graduate of University of East Anglia. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Bloomsbury Publishing, 38 Soho Square, London W1D 3HB, England. Writer. British Broadcasting Corporation, London, England, editor and writer of children's magazines, commissioning editor of science-fiction titles for BBC Worldwide, 1997, creative editor of pre-teen titles; La…
Born 1964, in South Auckland, New Zealand. Education: Trained for the ministry; University of Auckland, degree (English); earned M.D. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Steele Roberts Publishing, Box 9321, Wellington, New Zealand. Physician and author. Worked variously as a builder and cook; Whangarei Hospital, doctor; Waikato Hospital, doctor. New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards, judge, 200…
Born 1969, in Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada; Education: Earned two bachelors degrees and a CERTSEL certificate. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Lobster Press, 1620 Sherbrooke St. West, Ste. C-D, Montreal, Quebec H3H 1C9, Canada. Writer. Worked variously as a bridal consultant, seamstress, small-business owner, retail fabric salesperson, homemaker, and mother. Canadian Children's Book Centre,…
Born 1971, in New Haven, CT; Education: Yale College, B.A., 1993. Agent—Darhansoff & Verrill Literary Agency, 179 Franklin St., 4th Fl., New York, NY. New Yorker magazine, messenger, 1993-95; writer and artist, 1995—. Country Fair, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1997. Ballpark, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1998. Building, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1999. Henry, Chronicle Books (S…
Born 1933, in Memphis, TN; Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University, B.A.; Alabama A & M University, M.Ed. Politics: "Independent." Religion: "Southern Baptist." Hobbies and other interests: Knitting, travel. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Chelsea House Publishers, 1974 Sproul Rd., Ste. 400, Broomall, PA 1900…
