Nationality: American. Born: New York City, 1942. Education: The High School of Music and Art, New York; University of Wisconsin, Madison; New York University, B.A. 1964; Columbia University Teachers College, M.A. in special education 1965. Career: Since 1966 teacher of emotionally disturbed children in New York public schools at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York. Awards: Creative Artists Public Serv…
Nationality: American. Born: New York City, 1935. Education: Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 1952-56, A.B. (honors) 1956; University of Oregon, Eugene, M.A. in English 1959. Career: Staff member, English Language Institute, 1960, and faculty member, University of Maryland Overseas, 1961-62, both Lecce, Italy; Assistant Professor of English, Cornell University, 1962-67; Lecturer in Fiction, U…
Nationality: Scottish. Born: Jacqueline Margaret Kay in Edinburgh, Scotland, 1961. Education: University of Stirling, B.A. 1983. Career: Writer-in-residence, Hammersmith, London, 1989-91. Awards: Eric Gregory award, 1991; Scottish Arts Council Book award, 1991; Saltire First Book of the Year award, 1991; Forward prize, 1992; Signal Poetry award, 1993; Somerset Maugham award. Agent: Pat Kavanagh, P…
Pseudonym: Veronica Hart. Nationality: British (also a citizen of Australia). Born: Victor Michael Kitchener Kelleher in London, 1939. Education: The University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, B.A. in English 1962; University of St. Andrews, Fife, Dip. Ed. 1963; University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, B.A. (honors) 1969; University of South Africa, Pretoria, M.A. 1970, D. Litt. et…
Nationality: American. Born: Bronx, New York, 1937. Education: Fieldston School, New York; Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts (Read prize, 1960), 1957-61. Career: Writer-in-residence, State University College, Geneseo, New York, Spring 1965; teacher, New School for Social Research, New York, 1965-67, and University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica, 1969-70. Awards: Dana Reed Literary pr…
Nationality: Irish. Born: Ennis, County Clare, Ireland, 1930. Education: Studied nursing at St. Andrew's Hospital, London. Career: Founder and administrator of Adapt, shelter for victims of domestic violence, 1978—. Awards: Hennessey Award, 1972. Agent: Mic Cheetham, Sheil Land Associates, 43 Doughty Street, London, England. Maeve Kelly writes in several genres, and all of her work …
Nationality: Scottish. Born: Glasgow, 1946. Education: Greenfield School, Stonedyke School, and Hyndland School, all Glasgow, 1951-61. University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, 1975-78, 1981-82. Career: Has worked at a variety of semi-skilled and labouring jobs. Scottish Arts Council Writing fellowship, 1978-80, 1982-85. Awards: Scottish Arts Council bursary, 1973, 1980, and book award, 1983, 1987, 1989…
Nationality: American. Born: Brooklyn, New York, 1963. Education: University of North Carolina, B.A. 1985. Career: Editor, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1985-89; lecturer, Sarah Lawrence College, 1989—, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York, 1989—, and Columbia University, New York, New York, 1990—. Awards: MacDowell Colony fellowship, 1990. James Baldwin, about whom Randall Ke…
Nationality: Australian. Born: Sydney, New South Wales, 1935. Education: St. Patrick's College, Strathfield, New South Wales; studied for the priesthood 1953-60, and studied law. Military Service: Australian Citizens Military Forces. Family: Married Judith Mary Martin in 1965; two daughters. Career: High school teacher in Sydney, 1960-64; lecturer in drama, University of New England, Armid…
Born 1949, in London, England; Education: Nottingham Art School (now part of Nottingham Trent University), degree (fine art); Bath Spa, M.A. (creative writing). Hobbies and other interests: Traveling, watching wildlife. Agent—c/o Author Mail, The Chicken House, 2 Palmer St., Frome, Somerset BA11 1DS, England. Writer and illustrator. Formerly worked as an art and creative-writing teacher. C…
Nationality: Scottish. Throughout her work, Scottish writer A.L. Kennedy has explored the potentially infinite spaces within "ordinary" people's minds. Kennedy's novels and short stories focus on the mental and emotional confinement that is caused by isolation, psychic and physical violence in personal relationships, and enclosure within the ritualized routines of �…
(Jackie Kay) Born 1961, in Edinburgh, Scotland; partner of Carol Ann Duffy (a poet), since 1999; Education: University of Stirling, B.A. (honors, English), 1983. Office—School of English Literature, Language, and Linguistics, Percy Building, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, England. Agent—Pat Kavanagh, Peters, Fraser & Dunlop, 503/4 The Chambers, Ch…
Nationality: American. Born: Albany, New York, 1928. Education: Siena College, Loudonville, New York, B.A. 1949. Military Service: Served in the United States Army, 1950-52: sports editor and columnist for Army newspapers. Career: Assistant sports editor and columnist, Glens Falls Post Star, New York, 1949-50; reporter, Albany Times-Union, 1952-56; assistant managing editor and columnist, Puerto R…
Born 1947, in London, England; Education: Hood College, B.A., 1969; Drexel University, M.L.S., 1972. Religion: Lutheran. Agent—c/o Philomel Publicity, 345 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014. Anne Arundel County Public Library, Annapolis, MD, young-adult librarian, 1972–75, part-time reference librarian, 1975–79; freelance writer, 1981–. Part-time and volunteer reference li…
Nationality: American. Born: La Junta, Colorado, 1935. Education: A high school in Springfield, Oregon; University of Oregon, Eugene, B.A. 1957; Stanford University, California (Woodrow Wilson fellow), 1958-59. Career: Ward attendant in mental hospital, Menlo Park, California; president, Intrepid Trips film company, 1964. Since 1974 publisher, Spit in the Ocean magazine, Pleasant Hill, Oregon. Ser…
First name is pronounced "ruk-SA-na"; born 1962, in Lahore, Pakistan; immigrated to Canada, 1965; Education: Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology, earned degree as a biological-chemical technician; currently attends University of Toronto. Religion: Islam. Agent—Charlotte Sheedy, Sterling Lord Literistic, 65 Bleecker St., New York, NY 10012. Rukhsana Khan Writer and s…
1975— Distance runner Keflezighi, Meb, photograph. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission. The silver medal earned by Meb Keflezighi at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, represented a renaissance for distance running in the United States: Keflezghi's was the first American Olympic medal in the marathon since the silver medal earned by Frank Shorter in 1976. Kef…
Born 1955; children: Emily, Marguerite. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Delacorte Press, Bantam Dell, 1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. Journalist. People magazine, reporter; USA Today, feature writer for Life section; U.S. News &World Report, currently senior editor. Lucy Rose: Here's the Thing about Me, illustrated by Adam Rex, Delacorte Press (New York, NY), 2004. Lucy Rose: Big on…
Born 1953 in Grenada, West Indies; Education: Attended Presentation Brothers College, Grenada, and Dawson College School of Theatre; studied at Alvin Ailey School. Hobbies and other interests: Personal fitness. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Annick Press, 15 Patricia Ave., Toronto, Ontario M2M 1H9, Canada. Actor, writer, and storyteller. Actor on stage with Stratford Shakespearean Company, Stratfo…
Born 1942, in New York, NY; Education: Sarah Lawrence College, A.B., 1963; Columbia University, M.A., 1964; studied printmaking at Manhattanville College; studied illustration at Parsons School of Design. Hobbies and other interests: Tennis, travel. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Greenwillow Press/William Morrow, 1350 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019. Holly Keller Writer. Redding B…
Born 1933, in Melbourne, Australia; died 2000, in London, England; Education: Trained as a primary school teacher in Australia. Taught English to migrant workers' children in Australia; writer. Victorian Premier's Literary Award for Children's Literature and shortlist citation for Australian Children's Book of the Year award, both 1990, both for Onion Tears; shortlist c…
OBITUARY NOTICE— Born August 21, 1908, in Simla, India; died January 29, 2004, in Lavenham, Suffolk, England. Author. Kaye was best known for her epic novel set in India during the British Raj, The Far Pavilions (1978). The daughter of a British intelligence officer who at one time was also head of the Indian state of Rajputana, Kaye was initially raised largely by…
Born 1984, in New York, NY; Hobbies and other interests: Track, football. Writer. (As Tom Kemnitz, Jr.) Space: The Race to the Moon, Royal Fireworks Publishing (Unionville, NY), 2002. Also author of a book on problem-solving skills. What to Do? Book D, Automobiles Cross the Frontiers, a child's history of computers in America, and research for a history of film in America, all for Royal Fir…
Born 1952, in Newcastle upon Tyne, England; Education: Attended Newcastle University, 1970-74. Agent—Caroline Walsh, David Higham Associates, 5-8 Lower John St., Golden Square, London W1F 9HA, England. Artist and author. Exhibitions: Exhibited regularly with the Rowan Gallery, London, England, 1977-93, in San Francisco, CA, and New York, NY, 1981-87, and in Europe. Prize winner, John Moores…
1932-2004 Playwright South African writer Gibson Kente single-handedly made the "township musical," a form of popular theater in black South African culture during the repressive apartheid era, into a dominant means of expression and exuberance. He died of acquired immune-deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in 2004 after a career that spanned nearly 50 years, and his impact on South African c…
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland; Education: Attended York University and Stirling University. Agent—c/o PFD, Drury House, 34-43 Russell St., London WC2B 5HA, England. Writer, editor, and journalist. Kathleen Fidler Award, 1993, for 48 Hours with Franklin; White Ravens selection, International Youth Library, 2002, for William and the Night Train. 48 Hours with Franklin (novel), Blackie (London,…
1953— Singer Chaka Khan has enjoyed a long and fruitful recording career that spans over two decades, but her soaring voice has failed to put her in the same superstar strata as other African American divas of her generation like Patti LaBelle or Tina Turner. Khan's career came of age as disco dawned in the early 1970s, and with her first hit as a member of Rufus the singer became a …
1960— Vocalist, songwriter Kidjo, Angelique, photograph. AP/Wide world Photos, Reproduced by permission. A powerful singer and tireless performer, Angelique Kidjo has been one of the most successful performers to emerge on world music stages in the 1990s and 2000s. Her music not only draws from African traditions but also interprets the ways those traditions developed after Africans …
(Richard Cleminson Keep) Born 1949, in Fort Atkinson, WI; Education: University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, B.A. (art education). Office—220 N. Zapata Hwy., No. 11A PMB 69B, Laredo, TX 78043. Writer and illustrator. Lake Geneva Northwestern Military and Naval Academy, teacher of graphic and studio arts for seventeen years. Graphic designer; workshop presenter, with wife, Linda Lowery. Childre…
Born 1948, in Little Falls, NJ; Education: Oberlin College, B.A., 1969; Smith College, M.S.W., 1971; Instituto Allende, M.F.A., 1976. Agent— Amy Berkower, Writer's House, Inc., 21 West 26th St., New York, NY 10010. Writer. University Settlement, New York, NY, social worker, 1971-75. Worked with Centro de Crecimiento, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, 1977-80. Belonging: A Novel, Dial (N…
two Education: University of Guelph, B.A. (zoology; with honors), 1983; University of British Columbia, M.A. (science learning), 1995; King's College, London, Ph.D. (education and international environmental policy), 2001. Hobbies and other interests: Distance running, reading, camping, hiking, traveling. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Maple Tree Press Inc., 51 Front St. East, Suite 200, Tor…
Born 1954, in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Canada; Education: University of Manitoba, B.A., 1975; University of Toronto, LL.B., 1978. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Roc Books, 375 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014. Practicing attorney, 1981–82; Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Radio, Toronto, Ontario, writer and producer in drama department, 1982–89; writer. Association of Canadian Television…
Born 1945, in Augusta, GA; Education: Young Harris College, A.A., 1965; attended Georgia Southern College, 1965–66; Georgia State University, B.A., 1968. Agent—Ginger Knowlton, Curtis Brown Ltd., 10 Astor Pl., New York, NY 10003. Writer. Best Books of the Year listee, Boston Globe, 1995, for Luck with Potatoes; Pick of the Lists designation, American Booksellers Association, 1998, fo…
Surname is pronounced "carrot"; born 1936, in LaCrosse WI; Education: Attended University of Minnesota, 1954-55. Hobbies and other interests: Reading, antiques, watching baseball, animals. Agent—Emilie Jacobson, Curtis Brown Ltd., 10 Astor Place, New York, NY 10003. Writer, 1973—. Volunteer for the Humane Society and Pasado's Safe Haven. Authors Guild, Society o…
See index for SATA sketch: Born June 27, 1927, in Lynbrook, Long Island, NY; died January 23, 2004, in Windsor, VT. Entertainer and author. Keeshan was famous as the star of the children's program Captain Kangaroo, which was broadcast on television for nearly forty years. Beginning in 1943 as a page for the National Broadcasting Corp. in New York City, Keeshan had been involved in the world…
Born 1943, in Belleville, Ontario, Canada; daughter of Frank (an engineer) and Myriel (Bowman) Rabel; Education: Ontario College of Art and Design, diploma (with honors), 1966; studied at Gerritt Rietveld Akademie (Amsterdam, Netherlands), 1966-67. Illustrator and author. McClelland & Stewart, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, staff artist, 1968-70; freelance graphic artist, beginning 1970; Nation…
1953— Journalist, lecturer The 14th of 19 children born into a sharecropping family in the delta region of southeastern Arkansas, Janis F. Kearney and her siblings were taught by their parents to dream and to work toward fulfilling their dreams. Kearney published the historic Arkansas State Press for a number of years before joining President Bill Clinton's administration as his pers…
1942-2004 Musician In the 1960s and 1970s, Robin Kenyatta was one of the more original players in the new sound of jazz. Unafraid to put his alto sax through unexpected twists, Kenyatta became famous for his free jazz performances. During a career spanning four decades, he released 12 albums and appeared on dozens more. He held his own against the greatest jazz men of the twentieth century and, ac…
196?— R&B vocalist, songwriter Kem, photograph. Quantrell Colbert/Getty Images. Kem has carved a niche for himself in the music world. His jazz-influenced contemporary R&B vocal styles are claiming a loyal following in an African-American musical environment dominated by hip-hop sounds. When he signed to the venerable Motown music label and his debut release, Kemistry, …
1970— Actress Khumalo, Leleti, photograph. Matthew Simmons/Getty Images. A few times every generation, an actor or actress emerges whose performances can change the way the public thinks about an issue. Leleti Khumalo is such an artist. Her powerful star turn in both the stage and screen versions of Sarafina! changed the way people viewed apartheid at a time when it was still officia…
Born 1945, in Reading, PA; Education: Drexel University, B.S. (English), 1966; University of Michigan, M.A. (English language and literature), 1967; Goddard College, M.F.A. (poetry), 1978. Hobbies and other interests: Powwows, walking, botanizing, animals. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Greenwillow Books, 13500 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019. Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, adjunc…
Nicolás Kanellos: 1945—: Publisher, editor. Nicolás Kanellos has devoted his distinguished academic career to publishing works of Hispanic literature and scholarship in the United States. Through Arte Público Press, which he founded in 1979, he has published a wealth of material that has introduced Hispanic writing to mainstream readers. As he once commented in Cont…
Born 1955, in Grand Forks, ND; Education: University of Kansas, B.A., 1978; graduate study at University of Georgia, 1980. Hobbies and other interests: Origami, gardening, hiking. Office—Storytime Ink International, P.O. Box 470505, Cleveland, OH 44147. Music therapist in Atlanta, GA, 1978–84; special-education teacher in Thomasville, GA, 1981–84; public speaker and professio…
(P.B. Kerr) Born 1956, in Scotland; Education: Law school graduate. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Henry Holt & Co., 115 W. 18th St., New York, NY 10011. Writer. Previously worked in law, advertising, and journalism. March Violets (also see below), Viking (London, England), 1989. The Pale Criminal (also see below), Viking (London, England), 1990. A German Requiem (also see below), Viking (Lond…
Born 1967, in Hershey, PA; Education: Attended Pennsylvania School of the Arts; York College of Pennsylvania, B.A. (fine arts), 2003. Politics: Democrat. Religion: "Atheist." Hobbies and other interests: Landscaping, stained glass, sculpture, woodworking. Agent—Mela Bolinao, HK Portfolio, 10 E. 29th St., 40-G, New York, NY 10016. Illustrator and fine artist, 1992–. York…
1914-2003 Dermatologist John A. "Jack" Kenney Jr. was a distinguished dermatologist and pioneer in the study of skin diseases afflicting non-white populations. One of the first black doctors trained in dermatology, he was a prominent member of the dermatology department at Howard University's medical school for more than 40 years. Kenney became an inspirational figure to sever…
Born 1947, in Newark, NJ; Education: Graduated from Tyler School of Art, 1969; Yale School of Art and Architecture, M.F.A., 1971. Karen Katz Agent—c/o Author Mail, Simon & Schuster, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020. Author and illustrator of children's books. Has also worked as a costume designer, quilt maker, fabric artist, and graphic designer. Exhibit…
Born 1951, in Sabzevar, Iran; Ethnicity: "Iranian-American." Education: University of Tehran, B.S. (geography), 1973; Texas A & I, M.S. (agricultural mechanization), 1978; University of Oregon, M.A. (geography), 1983, Ph.D. (geography), 1987. Presenter at conferences. Politics: Democrat. Religion: Muslim. Educator and author. University of Oregon, Eugene, adjunct professor of …
