(Samuel M. Key) Born 1951, in Bussum, Netherlands; immigrated to Canada, 1952, naturalized citizen, 1961; Education: Attended Aylmer and Philemen Wright high schools. Hobbies and other interests: Music, fine arts. Agent—Russell Galen, Scovil Chichak Galen Literary Agency, Inc., 381 Park Avenue South, Suite 1020, New York, NY 10016. Science Fiction Writers of America, SF Canada. De Grijze R…
Born 1961, in Boston, MA; Education: Brown University, degree (engineering and electronic music); studied art with author/illustrator David Macaulay. Hobbies and other interests: Music. Agent—c/o Author Mail, David Fickling Books, 31 Beaumont St., Oxford OX1, England. Milton Academy, Boston, MA, physics instructor for five years; illustrator and cartoonist, 1988—. Society of Authors…
1961– Writer Eric Jerome Dickey has made a name for himself as "one of the few kings of popular African-American fiction for women," according to the New York Times. By 2006 Dickey had topped the New York Times bestseller list six times. Selling more than 500,000 books each year since 1999, Dickey has found a large reading audience with his novels that shatter stereotypes abou…
1965(?)– Women's rights activist, model Dirie, Waris, photograph. Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters/Landov. Though she was among the top models in the world for some years, model Waris Dirie has disfigured feet, covered with scars she acquired during a nine-day flight across the desert after she ran away from her nomadic family in Somalia to escape a forced marriage. Those are not, however, her …
(Sandra Louise Woodward Darling) Born 1941, in Cincinnati, OH; Education: Swarthmore College, B.A., 1963; trained as an artist at Art Students' League (New York, NY), 1963–64. Religion: Episcopalian. Hobbies and other interests: Fashion design and dressmaking. Office—Blue Lantern Studio, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98103-6900. Fine artist, writer, illustrator, and boo…
Born 1947, in Newton, NJ; Education: Attended Phoenix School of Design, 1964; Pratt Institute, B.F.A., 1969. Agent—c/o Author Mail, HarperCollins, 1350 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019-4703. Illustrator and author of books for children, 1971–. Holt, Rinehart &Winston (book publishers), New York, NY, book designer, then art director of Basic Reading Program, 1969…
Born 1969. Education: Attended Florida School of the Arts; graduate of Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, 1992. Writer and illustrator. The Spider and the Fly, illustrated by DiTerlizzi and written by Mary Howitt, was named a Caldecott Honor Book, 2003. Ted, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 2001. Jimmy Zangwow's Out-of-This-World Moon Pie Adventure, Simon �…
Nationality: Australian. Born: Melbourne, Victoria, 1957. Education: Melbourne State College, B.A. in education 1979. Career: Taught creative writing, Peninsula College of Technical and Further Education. Awards: Australia Council/Literature Board fellowship, 1989, 1991; Marten Bequest Travelling Scholarship, 1992, for prose; National Book Council Banjo award, 1993, for fiction. Much of my fictio…
Born 1950, in San Francisco, CA; Education: University of California at Berkeley, B.A., 1972; University of Washington, M.A., 1974; University of California at Los Angeles, teaching certificate, 1976. Politics: Democrat. Saint Luke School, Seattle, WA, teacher, 1977-90; Northshore School District, Bothell, WA, teacher, 1991—. Seattle Sun (daily newspaper), film and book critic, 1980-85. Aut…
Born 1959, in New York, NY; Education: Attended Fort Lauderdale Art Institute, earned diploma. Hobbies and other interests: Ceramics, music. Agent—c/o Author Correspondence, Lee & Low Books, 95 Madison Ave., Suite 606, New York, NY 10016. Graphic artist and illustrator. Worked variously as a newspaper illustrator, graphic designer, and graphic artist in California, 1980—. Cald…
Nationality: British. Education: Mary Datchelor School, London; St. Anne's College, Oxford, M.A. in history 1952. Career: Has worked for Clarendon Press, Oxford, as a social worker in a mental hospital, and as a teacher. Lives in Charlbury, Oxfordshire. Awards: James Tait Black Memorial prize, 1962; Cheltenham Festival award, 1963; Fawcett prize, for Judasland, 1990. My greatest passion in…
Born 1927, in Livingstone, Northern Rhodesia (Now Zambia); children: (first marriage) Philippa Lucy Anne, Dorothy Louise, John Geoffrey Hyett, James Peter Dickinson Christopher Meade. Education: Attended Eton College, five years; King's College, Cambridge, B.A., 1951. Politics: "Leftish." Religion: "Lapsed Anglican." Agent—A. P. Watt, Ltd., 20 John …
Nationality: Australian. Born: Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, 1907; moved to Australia, 1947; became citizen, 1970. Education: Queen's Royal College, Port-of-Spain, 1916-22. Career: Accounts clerk, 1927-28, and salesman, Standard Brands, 1929-39, both Trinidad; clerk, Trinidad Clay Products, 1940-47; auto assembler, General Motors-Holden, 1948, cost clerk in car repair shops, 1949-55, freelance w…
Nationality: British. Born: Leonard Cyril Deighton in London, 1929. Education: Marylebone Grammar School, St. Martin's School of Art, and Royal College of Art, 1952-55, all London. Military Service: Served in the Royal Air Force. Family: Married Shirley Thompson in 1960. Career: Has worked as a railway lengthman, pastry cook, dress factory manager, waiter, illustrator, teacher, and photogr…
Nationality: American. Born: New York City, 1942. Education: The Dalton School and Bronx High School of Science, both New York; City College of New York (poetry editor, Promethean), 1960, 1962-63. Career: Butler Professor of English, State University of New York, Buffalo, 1975; Fellow, Center for Twentieth Century Studies, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, 1977; since 1988 professor of comparati…
Nationality: American. Born: London, England, 1942. Education: Harvard University, B.A. 1963; Columbia University, M.A. 1966. Career: Member of Department of Language and Literature, Bennington College, Bennington, Vermont, 1966-84, writing workshop director, 1977-84; professor of English, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York, 1984-85; Robert Frost Professor of English Language and Literat…
Nationality: American. Born: New York City, 1936. Education: Fordham University, Bronx, New York, 1954-58. Awards: Guggenheim fellowship, 1979; American Academy award, 1984; National Book award, 1985; Irish Times-Aer Lingus prize, 1989; PEN-Faulkner award for fiction, 1991; Jerusalem Prize, 1999. Agent: Wallace Literary Agency, 177 East 70th Street, New York, New York 10021, U.S.A. Don DeLillo�…
Nationality: Indian. Born: Anita Mazumbar, Mussoorie, 1937. Education: Queen Mary's Higher Secondary School, New Delhi; Miranda House, University of Delhi, B.A. (honours) in English literature 1957. Career: Since 1963 writer; Purington Professor of English, Mount Holyoke College, 1988-93; professor of writing, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1993—. Helen Cam Visiting Fellow, G…
Nationality: American. Born: Bombay, India, 1950. Education: Illinois Institute of Technology, 1969-71; Bloomsburg State College, 1971-72; University of Illinois at Chicago, B.A. 1977. Career: Has worked as telephone interviewer and demographics researcher. Currently, a secretary for Sears, Roebuck and Co., Chicago. Award: Illinois Arts Council award, 1990, for "Under the Moon;" Stan…
Nationality: Indian. Born: Dharwad, 1938. Education: The University of Bombay, B.A. (honors) in economics 1956, diploma in journalism 1970, M.A. in English 1970; University of Mysore, Karnataka, B.L. 1959. Awards: Raugammal prize, 1984; Nanjangud Tirumalamba award, for The Dark Holds No Terrors, 1989; Sahitya Academy award, 1990. Though no writer in India can get away from the idea of social comm…
Nationality: American. Born: Sacramento, California, 1934. Education: California Junior High School and McClatchy Senior High School, both Sacramento; University of California, Berkeley, 1952-56, B.A. in English 1956. Career: Associate feature editor, Vogue, New York, 1956-63; moved to Los Angeles, 1964; columnist ("Points West"), with Dunne, Saturday Evening Post, Philadelphia, 1967…
Nationality: Indian-American. Born: Chitra Banerjee in Calcutta, India, 1956. Education: Calcutta University, B.A. 1976; Wright State University, M.A. 1978; University of California, Berkeley, Ph.D. 1985. Career: Professor of creative writing, Diablo Valley College, 1987-89; Foothill College, Los Altos, California, 1989—. Awards: Memorial Award (Barbara Deming Foundation), 1989; Writing Awa…
Born 1959 in CA; children: three daughters. Agent—c/o Author Mail, HarperCollins, 10 East 53rd St., 7th Floor, New York, NY 10012. Journalist, editor, and writer. Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (member, board of advisors, and international coordinator). (Editor, with Kristin Embry Litchman) Period Pieces: Stories for Girls, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2003. Co…
Born 1958, in Wolverhampton, England; Education: University of Birmingham, B.A., 1980. Agent—Rosemary Canter, PFD, Drury House, 34-43 Russell Street, London WC2B 5HA, England. Worked as a primary school teacher in London, England, c. 1980-90; full time writer, 1990—. TSB Birmingham Children's Book Award, 1996, for Starring Alice Mackenzie; Big-Three Book Award, 2000-01, for An…
Nationality: American. Born: New York City, 1936. Education: City College, New York, 1953-58, B.A. in international relations 1958. Career: Worked in various jobs, including bartender, waiter, junior high school teacher, technical writer, journalist, news editor, store clerk, and tour leader, 1953-79; lecturer, New York University School of Continuing Education, 1979-80. Assistant professor, 1980-…
Born 1944, in Poona, Bombay, India. Education: Wadia College, Poona, B.Sc.; Cambridge University, B.A. (English), 1967; University of Leicester, M.A. (English). Agent—c/o Nicky Lund, David Higham Associates, 5-8 Lower John Street, Golden Square, London W1F 9HA, England. Henry Thornton Comprehensive School, Clapham, London, England, English teacher; Archbishop Temple School, Lambeth, London,…
Nationality: American. Born: New York City, 1931. Education: The Bronx High School of Science; Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio, A.B. (honors) in philosophy 1952; Columbia University, New York, 1952-53. Military Service: Served in the United States Army, 1953-55. Career: Editor, New American Library, New York, 1960-64; editor-in-chief, 1964-69, and publisher, 1969, Dial Press, New York; member of the…
1914-2004 Businesswoman, pianist, and community leader Olivia Stanford packed many full and successful lives within the almost ninety years she lived. First known nationally as the co-owner of the largest black beauty salon in the United States, she was also an accomplished musician and producer of musical performances. In addition to raising her three children and creating elegant homes in New Yo…
1870-1909 Boxer Known as "Little Chocolate" or "The Chocolate Drop," Canadian-born boxer George Dixon became the first black boxer to hold a world championship when he defeated British fighter Nunc Wallace in 1890 to take the bantamweight crown. He later won the world featherweight championship as well, becoming the first boxer of any ethnicity to hold two championships…
1924— Actress, civil rights activist, writer Actress and social activist Ruby Dee expressed her philosophy in I Dream a World: Portraits of Black Women Who Changed America: "You just try to do everything that comes up. Get up an hour earlier, stay up an hour later, make the time. Then you look back and say, 'Well, that was a neat piece of juggling there—school, marriage…
1932-1998 Writer, civil rights activist Thomas Covington Dent, usually known as Tom Dent, was an author, a playwright, a poet, an essayist, a civil rights activist, and an oral historian. He was a leading member of a group of black writers who during the 1950s merged artistic expression with explorations of black identity. Combining the quest for self-identity and cultural identity with a politica…
(Tomie dePaola) Surname pronounced "da-pow-la"; born 1934, in Meriden, CT; Education: Pratt Institute, B.F.A., 1956; California College of Arts and Crafts, M.F.A., 1969; Lone Mountain College, doctoral equivalency, 1970. Religion: Roman Catholic. office—c/o Author Mail, Penguin Young Readers Group, 345 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014. Author and illustrator of books for childre…
1906-1989 Writer At the time of his death in 1989, Birago Diop was one of Senegal's most prominent writers, and had been since he first rose to fame in the 1950s. Though he wrote in the French language, Diop's works drew upon the folktales of his West African nation's indigenous Wolof culture. An obituary in the Times of London praised his "deceptively simple stories&#x…
Female. Education: University of North Texas, Denton, Ph.D. (early childhood education). Office—Center for Teacher Education, Southern Methodist University, 6425 Boaz Lane, Dallas, TX 75205. Educator and writer. Worked as a pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and first-grade teacher; Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, assistant professor of early childhood education. Honoring Our Profe…
Born 0027;s name John; children: Laurel, Nick, Hannah. Education: Graduated from Michigan State University. Agent—c/o Author Mail, HarperCollins Children's, 1350 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019. Writer. Bed Hogs, illustrated by Howard Fine, Hyperion Books for Children (New York, NY), 2004. Liberty's Journey, illustrated by Richard Egielski, Hyperion Books for Chil…
Born in Nancy, France. Education: Studied at the Nancy School of Arts. Office—21 rue des Prés aux Bois, 78000 Versailles, France. Author and illustrator. French Ministry of Culture, worked in the contemporary visual arts department; French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, worked at the French Consulate in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; freelance illustrator, 1998—. Draftsman for a stain…
Born 1967, in Nogent-sur-Marne, France; Education: Attended Met de Penninghen (art school; Paris, France), 1984-86; École de Communication Visuelle (Paris, France), 1986-88. Hobbies and other interests: Travel, cinema, languages, literature, music, theater. Illustrator, 1988—. Comme il rougit, M. Souris!, Bordas (Paris, France), 1989. Panique dans l'ascenseur, Fleurus (Paris, Fr…
Born 1964, in Merion, PA; Education: University of Florida, B.A., 1987. Writer. Bookman (book distributor), St. Louis Park, MN, former bookstore clerk. McKnight artist fellowship for writers, 1998; Newbery Honor Book award, and Hedgie Award, Hedgehogbooks.com, both 2000, and Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award, 2002, all for Because of Winn-Dixie; finalist, National Book Award, fo…
Oscar De La Hoya: 1973—: Boxer. Oscar De La Hoya became the "Golden Boy" of boxing with his surprising win of a gold medal in the 1992 Olympic Games. Since then he has captured five boxing titles in five different weight classes, ranking him among boxing's elite. He has often been referred to as the best contemporary American boxer. Oscar De La Hoya was born on Febr…
Fernando de la Rúa: 1937—: Politician, lawyer. The former president of Argentina, Fernando de la Rúa attempted to restore solvency to a nation deep in debt and out of patience with governmental corruption, rampant inflation, and unemployment. Elected late in 1999 by South America's second largest nation, de la Rúa, Argentina's 47th president, applied t…
Cameron Diaz: 1972—: Model, actress. "She has an energy, an electricity in her face—a sparkle that is unmistakable," photographer Jeff Dunas is quoted as having said in People Weekly about model-turned-actress Cameron Diaz. Diaz is an interesting combination of naiveté and geek—she actually won a belching trophy from Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awa…
Oscar de la Renta: 1932—: Fashion designer. Oscar de la Renta is an internationally recognized fashion designer, known for his opulent creations of exotic high fashion for women. Although de la Renta has toned down his offerings to appeal to the more practical needs of working women, he continues to be the designer of choice for the rich and famous, including first ladies Nancy Reagan, …
1922— Author While he has never quite achieved the stature of such contemporaries as Richard Wright and Ralph Ellison, William Demby is without question one of the most important African American authors of the twentieth century. His novels address issues of race and national identity with an unsurpassed power and command of imagery. An expatriate living in Rome for much of his career, Demb…
Luis Ernesto Derbéz Bautista: 1947—: Economist, government official. Since his appointment to the post of minister of the economy in 2000, Luis Ernesto Derbéz Bautista has been at the forefront of many of the policies transforming the Mexican economy. Developing newly-elected President Vicente Fox's much-needed economic reform measures, U.S.-trained economist Derb&#…
Also writes as Elizabeth O'Hara. Nationality: Irish. Born: Eilis Deeney in Walkinstown, Dublin, 1954. Education: University College Dublin, Ireland, B.A. 1974, M. Phil. 1976, Ph.D. 1982. Career: Folklore collector, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland, 1978-80; assistant keeper, National Library, 1980-95; folklore lecturer, People's College, 1986-92; writer of books for childre…
Born 1951, in Denver, CO; Education: University of Michigan, B.A., 1972; Syracuse University, M.A., 1974. Politics: Democrat. Religion: Protestant. Hobbies and other interests: Swimming, rowing, reading, music. Agent—Barbara Kouts, P.O. Box 560, Bellport, NY 11713. Business Journals, Inc., Stamford, CT, assistant editor, 1973; New Readers Press, Syracuse, NY, assistant editor, 1973-74; Zif…
Agent—George Nicholson, Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc., 65 Bleecker St., New York, NY 10012. Contract speech and language pathologist for middle school and high school students with communication disorders, Albuquerque, NM. Gives dramatic readings from her works. Also works with adults and young children in an early intervention program. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Societ…
Born 1957, in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico; daughter of Georges Carlos (a philosophy professor) and Marta (a French professor; Education: Attended University of Puerto Rico, 1976-77; Ecole Supérieure d'Arts Graphiques, degree (first in class), 1980. Religion: Roman Catholic. Children's book author and freelance illustrator, 1980—. Juror for Society of Illustrators Original Art …
Born 1964, in Brooklyn, NY; Education: School of Visual Arts (New York, NY), B.F.A., 1986. Children's book illustrator and writer. Taught illustration at the School of Visual Arts, New York, NY. I Am Running Away Today, Hyperion (New York, NY), 1992. Moon Soup, Hyperion (New York, NY), 1993. My House, Holt (New York, NY), 1994. Sun and Moon: A Giant Love Story, Scholastic (New York, NY), 19…
Born 1956, in Calcutta, India; Education: Calcutta University, B.A., 1976; Wright State University, M.A., 1978; University of California—Berkeley, Ph.D., 1985. Office—Foothill College, English Department, 12345 El Monte Rd., Los Altos, CA 94022-4504. Diablo Valley College, professor of creative writing, 1987-89; Foothill College, Los Altos, CA, professor of creative writing, 1989…
1970 & 1971— Musical group P.M. Dawn enjoyed some impressive pop-music success in the 1990s with the hippie-style, radio-friendly, peace-and-love rap songs of Prince Be and D. J. Minutemix. The unusual samples and gliding melodies from these two young New Jersey musician-brothers were showcased in their 1991 hit "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss," from their platinum-selling …
Juan Carlos de Borbón y Borbón: 1938—: King of Spain. Spain's King Juan Carlos I has ushered his country through an unusual political evolution: handpicked by military dictator Generalissimo Francisco Franco to succeed him, the new monarch quickly moved to restore Spain to a democratic constitutional government in the late 1970s. In doing so he gave up much of his o…
(Sylviane Anna Diouf) Born 1952, in France; Education: Paris University, B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. Office—Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 515 Malcolm X Blvd., New York, NY 10037-1801. Writer. Libreville University, Gabon, assistant professor, 1976–79; Jeune Afrique, Paris, France, journalist, 1979–82; Senegalese diplomatic service, first counselor, 1982–99;…
Born 1952, in New Orleans, LA; Education: University of South Alabama, B.A., 1976; South Dakota State University, M.S., 1992; University of Tennessee, Ph.D., 1998. Hobbies and other interests: Hiking, mountain biking, reading, cooking. Office—South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, East St. Joseph St., Rapid City, SD 57701-3995. Associate professor of geography and chair of social sci…
1933– Mathematician, educator Dr. Lovenia DeConge-Watson spent 37 years in higher education, 29 of them at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Although most of her career was devoted to teaching and administration, DeConge-Watson published several short mathematical notes, three of them in the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Mary Lovenia DeConge was b…
1936– Broadcaster Merri Dee's 30-year career in Chicago broadcasting is admirable in itself. One of the first African-American women to anchor the news in the Windy City, Dee has parlayed her celebrity into charitable work. She has raised millions of dollars for children's charities, spearheaded victims' rights legislation, and helped increase adoption rates in Illinois…
1966— Fashion designers, entrepreneurs On the cutting edge of men's fashion design since the late 1990s, twin brothers Ronald and Rony Delice have become known for creating fine suits that incorporate bold color combinations with edgy styling. Their Ron & Ron menswear label, worn by such celebrities as Will Smith and Samuel L. Jackson, has brought the brothers both critical ac…
(Cynthia C. DeFelice) Born 1951, in Philadelphia, PA; stepEducation: William Smith College, B.A., 1973; Syracuse University, M.L.S., 1980. Hobbies and other interests: Quilt making, dulcimer playing, hiking, backpacking, bird watching, fishing, reading, watching films. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, Inc., 19 Union Square West, New York, NY 10003. Storyteller and writer.…
Born 1954, in Valetta, Malta; Hobbies and other interests: Playing electric guitar, writing songs. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Scholastic, Inc., 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012. Writer; Leicester University, Leicester, England, began as histologist, 1978, currently confocal microscopist. Carnegie Medal nomination, 1999, for Fly Cherokee Fly; Rotherham Children's Book Award, for The Fire…
