Born 1968, in Sydney, Australia. Education: Graduated from Victorian College of the Arts, 1992; RMIT University, diploma of arts (professional writing and editing). Agent—Booked Out Arts and Literature Agency, P.O. Box 2321, Prahran, Victoria 3181, Australia. Writer; actor in television, film, and theater; has performed with Flying Bookworm Theatre Company and Salamanca Theatre Company. Chi…
Born 1940, in Brooklyn, NY; Education: Syracuse University, B.F.A., 1962. Illustrator. Worked for Newsday (newspaper), Long Island, NY, as editorial illustrator for eight years, for General Dynamics, Groton, CT, for seven years, and Loretta Krupinskiheld various jobs relating to design and illustration until 1987; freelance children's book illustrator and marine art painter, 1987–. E…
1968— Rap musician, actor L. L. Cool J, photograph. © Ron Sachs/Corbis In the turbulent climate of rap music, careers are often brief moments of success crested atop long stretches of obscurity. For L.L. Cool J, this is not so, as he has helped lay down the groundwork for rap during the genre's early days and refine and reinvent it for over a decade. A veteran in a field …
Born 1943, in Detroit, MI; Education: University of Cincinnati, degree, 1965; Hebrew Union College, ordained rabbi, 1969. Hobbies and other interests: Graphic design, computers, Mozart, "hanging around sailboats." Office—c/o The Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake St., San Francisco, CA 94118. Rabbi, educator, and writer. Congregation Solel, Highland Park, IL, rabbinic fellow-in-res…
Born 1958, in Québec City, Québec, Canada; Education: Laval University, B.A. (visual arts), 1982, teaching certificate, 1983. Hobbies and other interests: Swimming, skiing, writing, reading, talking, sleeping, non-commercial music, non-commercial movies, "I love wind, sun, rain, snow, heat, freezing cold, storms, ice storms … birds, dogs, trees, wild flowers, water, riv…
Married Wayne Lynch (a photographer). Agent—c/o Author Mail, Fitzhenry &Whiteside, 195 Allstate Pkwy., Markham, Ontario L3R 4T8, Canada. Writer and photographer. Eagles, photographs by husband, Wayne Lynch, Sierra Club Books (San Francisco, CA), 1990. Rudy Visits the North, illustrated by Muriel Hope, Hyperion Books for Children (New York, NY), 1992. Bears, illustrated by Ian Stirlin…
Nationality: British. Born: Bromley, England, 1954. Education: King's College, London, B.A. Career: Film director, playwright, screenwriter, novelist; writer-in-residence, 1981 and 1985-86, Royal Court Theatre, London. Awards: Themes Television Playwright award, 1980, for The Mother Country; George Devine award, 1981; Evening Standard award, 1985, for screenplay; Rotterdam Festival's…
Nationality: Barbadian. Born: Carrington Village, 1927. Education: Roebuck Boys' School; Combermere School. Career: Teacher in Trinidad, 1946-50; moved to England, 1950; host of book review programme, BBC West Indian Service, London, 1951. Writer-in-residence, University of the West Indies, Kingston, 1967-68. Coeditor of Barbados and Guyana independence issues of New World Quarterly, Kingst…
Nationality: American. Born: Seoul, South Korea, 1965. Education: Yale University, B.A. 1987; University of Oregon, M.F.A. 1993. Career: Assistant professor of creative writing, University of Oregon, Eugene, 1993—. Agent: Amanda Urban, International Creative Management, 40 West 57th Street, New York, New York 10019, U.S.A. Address: Creative Writing Program, University of Oregon, Eugene, Or…
Nationality: Canadian. Born: Port Alberni, British Columbia, 1952. Education: University of British Columbia, B.A.; Douglas College, diploma in nursing. Career: Nurse and writer. In "All Spikes but the Last" (1957), F. R. Scott rebukes E. J. Pratt for failing in his epic, Towards the Last Spike (1952), to acknowledge the contribution Chinese laborers made in finishing the transnation…
Nationality: American. Born: Berkeley, California, 1929; daughter of the anthropologist Alfred L. Kroeber. Education: Radcliffe College, Cambridge, Massachusetts, AB in French 1951 (Phi Beta Kappa); Columbia University, New York (Faculty fellow; Fulbright fellow, 1953), MA in romance languages 1952. Career: Instructor in French, Mercer University, Macon, Georgia, 1954, and University of Idaho, Mos…
Nationality: American. Born: Brooklyn, New York, 1938. Education: Brooklyn College, B.A. 1960; University College, London, 1962-63; Stanford University, California, M.A. 1963, Ph.D. in English 1965. Career: Assistant professor of English, 1966-75, and writer-in-residence, 1975-81, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts. Since 1985 professor of English, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshir…
Nationality: American. Born: New Orleans, Louisiana, 1925. Education: The University of Detroit, 1946-50, Ph.B. in English 1950. Military Service: Served in the United States Naval Reserve, 1943-46. Career: Copywriter, Campbell Ewald advertising agency, Detroit, 1950-61; writer of industrial and educational films, 1961-63; director, Elmore Leonard Advertising Company, 1963-66. Since 1967 full-time…
Born 1950, in New Rochelle, NY; Education: Emerson College, graduated, 1973. Hobbies and other interests: Antique motorcycles and automobiles. Office—c/o NBC Enterprises, 3500 Olive Dr., 15th Fl., Burbank, CA 91510-7885. Television personality, actor, comedian, and writer. Rolls Royce auto mechanic and deliveryman; stand-up comedian at venues, including Carnegie Hall and Caesar's Pal…
Pseudonym: Jane Somers. Nationality: British. Born: Doris May Tayler in Kermanshah, Persia, 1919; moved with her family to England, then to Banket, Southern Rhodesia, 1924. Education: Dominican Convent School, Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia, 1926-34. Career: Au pair, Salisbury, 1934-35; telephone operator and clerk, Salisbury, 1937-39; typist, 1946-48; journalist, Cape Town Guardian, 1949; moved to …
Born 1950, in Philadelphia, PA; Education: University of Maine, B.S., 1972. Politics: "Compassionate liberal and environmentalist." Agent—Susan Cohen, Writer's House, 21 W. 26th St., New York, NY 10010. Writer. Weekly columnist, "The Naturalist," New Haven Register, New Haven, CT, 1988—. Has also worked as an elementary school classroom teacher; ma…
OBITUARY NOTICE— See index for SATA sketch: Born December 28, 1910, in Winchester, VA; died of pneumonia November 14, 2004, in Winchester, VA. Educator, editor, and author. The founder of the International Reading Association, Larrick was a champion of literacy who also wrote and edited books that promoted better reading skills for children. After completing her undergraduate work at Gouche…
(Kathryn Lasky Knight, E. L. Swann) Born 1944, in Indianapolis, IN; Education: University of Michigan, B.A., 1966; Wheelock College, M.A., 1977. Religion: Jewish. Hobbies and other interests: Sailing, skiing, hiking, reading, movies. Agent—Jed Mattes, 175 West 73rd St., New York, NY. Writer. (With Lucy Floyd) Agatha's Alphabet, Rand McNally, 1975. I Have Four Names for My Grandfather…
Born 1977, in London, England; Education: Attended Oxford University. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Simon & Schuster, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020. Writer and Web designer. The Supernatural, Barron's (Hauppage, NY), 1999. Waking Dream, Macmillan (London, England), 2002. Super Zeroes, Oxford University Press (London, England), 2005. Hex, Macmillan (London, England)…
Born 1960, in Elmira, NY. Education: B.S. (art education); M.S. (education). Hobbies and other interests: Reading, oil painting, photography, playing Scrabble, home-repair projects, computer games. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Henry Holt & Co., 175 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10010. Elementary art educator in western MA; writer. Book for the Teen Age designation, New York Public Library, 2004, …
Born 0027;s name Toni; Education: University of Wisconsin, B.S. (art). Agent—c/o Author Mail, HarperCollins Children's, 1350 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019. Author and illustrator. VISTA volunteer with United Tribes of North Dakota; formerly worked in advertising. Parents magazine Best Book of the Year designation, 1995, for The Carousel; Irma S. and James H. Black Award …
Born 1971, in Chichester, England; Education: University of Nothumbria at Newcastle, B.A. (with honors), 1994; Central St. Martin's College of Art and Design, M.A. (with distinction), 1998. Agent—Arena, 11 King's Ridge Rd., Long Valley, NJ 07853. Freelance writer and illustrator, 1997—. Epsom Art College, tutor, 2000. Work has been included in exhibitions in London and …
Born 1950, in Baltimore, MD; Education: University of Maryland, B.S.; John Hopkins University, M.S. Special education teacher, Howard County MD, 1976-94; writer, 1988—; Blue Ridge Community College, Weyers Cave, VA, adjunct instructor, 1995—; courtappointed special advocate for abused children, 1996—. Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Sisters in Crime…
Born 1959, in Brooklyn, NY; Education: Attended San Francisco State University. Agent—c/o Author Mail, HarperCollins Children's, 1350 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019. Freelance writer, c. 1996–; creative writing instructor, 1996–. American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults designation, 2006, for The Orpheus Obsession. Johnny Voodoo, Delacorte (…
Born 1949, in Bath, England; Education: London University, B.A. (English literature; with honors). Agent—c/o Author Mail, Raintree/Heinemann, Halley Court, Jordan Hill, Oxford OX2 8EJ, England. Children's book author. Penguin Books, London, England, marketing assistant, 1974–78. Explorers on the Nile ("In Profile" series), Silver Burdett (Upper Saddle River, NJ),…
Born 1941, in Davenport, IA; Education: Illinois Wesleyan University, B.F.A., 1964. Hobbies and other interests: "Travel: anytime, anywhere." Office—1026 W. 4th Ave., Anchorage, AK 99501. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Chronicle Books, 86 2nd St., 6th Fl., San Francisco, CA 94105. U.S. Army Service Club, Lenggries, Germany, recreational specialist, 1964–65; social worker…
1953— Writer, educator, publisher Jawanza Kunjufu has dedicated his career to addressing the ills afflicting black culture in the United States, working primarily as an educational consultant and author but more recently expanding into video and film production. All aspects of the African American experience occupy Kunjufu's attention, but the main thrust of his work has been directe…
1946— Television executive As executive vice president of national programming for the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) until 1996, Jennifer Lawson is, according to Jeremy Gerard in the New York Times, "the most powerful programming executive in public television." Lawson is responsible for overseeing the creation, promotion, and scheduling of national programming for the 330-…
Born 1966; immigrated to United States, 1997; Education: Institute of Theatre, Music, and Cinema (St. Petersburg, Russia), graduated, 1992. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 19 Union Square W., New York, NY 10003. Illustrator and painter. Formerly worked as a set and costume designer in Russia. Lore Segal, Morris the Artist, Farrar, Straus & Giroux (New York, NY…
(Martine Bates) Born 1953, in Taber, Alberta, Canada; (second marriage) Dallas. Education: University of Calgary, graduated (first-class honors), 1996; Vermont College, M.F.A., 2003. Copy editor for SMART Technologies, Inc.; freelance writer. Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators, and Performers, Writer's Union of Canada. American Association of Mormon Letters Award, f…
Born 1963, in Chicago, IL; Education: Pratt Institute, B.F.A. (illustration). Hobbies and other interests: Letterpress printing, Aikido, gardening, bookbinding. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Candlewick Press, 2067 Massachusetts Ave., 5th Fl., Cambridge, MA 02140. Illustrator, author, and commercial artist. Self-employed freelance artist; clients include New York Times, New York City Transit Author…
("Dino" Don Lessem) Born 1951, in New York, NY; Education: Brandeis University, B.A. (cum laude; Oriental art history) 1973; attended University of Massachusetts—Boston, 1976. Politics: Anarchist. Religion: Jewish. Hobbies and other interests: Travel, sports. Agent—Al Zuckerman, Writers House, 21 West 26th St., New York, NY 10010. Writer and consultant. Science journal…
(Franklin W. Dixon, a house pseudonym, Lance Franklin, Fran Lantz, Jamie Suzanne, a house pseudonym) See index for SATA sketch: Born August 27, 1952, in Trenton, NJ; died of ovarian cancer November 22, 2004, in Santa Barbara, CA. Author. Lantz was a frustrated musician who later became a librarian and then a popular author of young-adult fiction. Graduating from Dickinson College in 1974, she trie…
When Sonia de León de Vega heard her first Beethoven symphony as a child, she decided to find out all she could about the composer. This inspiration helped launch her life long love affair with classical music that eventually led to her becoming a conductor. In 1986 de Vega conducted the Papal Mass at St. Peter's Ba-silica, and for several years she traveled broadly as a guest conduc…
Born 1941, in Philadelphia, PA; Education: New York University, B.S., 1963, M.A., 1966. Hobbies and other interests: Dance, traveling, gardening (in pots on a roof terrace), reading (especially Chinese and Japanese fiction and the classics), visiting museums, theater concerts, opera. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Putnam Publishers, 200 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016. Photographer and writer. New…
Born 1956, in Flint, MI; Education: Jacksonville State University, B.S., 1977, M.S., 1978; Auburn University, Ed.D., 1983. Religion: Methodist. Hobbies and other interests: Travel, playing the saxophone, reading children's books and southern fiction. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Peachtree Publishers, 1700 Chattahoochee Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30318-2112. Cleburn County Elementary School, firs…
Born 1960, in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia; Education: Studied history at universities in Perth and Sydney. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Allen & Unwin, 83 Alexander St., Crows Nest, New South Wales 2065, Australia. Freelance book editor, technical writer, and author. WildGame, Allen & Unwin (North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1991. The Tankermen, Allen & Unwi…
(J. V. Harlee, a joint pseudonym) Born 1970; Hobbies and other interests: Spending time with family. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Heinemann Library, 100 North La Salle, Ste. 1200, Chicago, IL 60602. Freelance writer and copyeditor. Picket News, managing editor and feature writer. World Romance Writers, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, EPIC, EPPRO, Potomac Writer'…
Born 1925, in New Orleans, LA; married Beverly Cline, July 30, Elmore Leonard 1949 (divorced May 24, 1977); Education: University of Detroit, Ph.B., 1950. Religion: Roman Catholic. Agent—Michael Siegel, Michael Siegel & Associates, 11532 Thurston Circle, Los Angeles, CA 90049. Writer, 1967—. Campbell-Ewald Advertising Agency, Detroit, MI, copywriter, 1950-61; freelance c…
Born 1926, in Detroit, MI; Education: Bob Jones University, B.A., 1950; Western Conservative Baptist Seminary, D.Min., 1977. Religion: Baptist. Hobbies and other interests: Flying his twin-engine plane, snow skiing, water skiing, football, motorcycling, golfing. Pastor of Baptist churches in Pickens, SC, 1948-50, and in Minneapolis, MN, 1950-56; Scott Memorial Baptist Church, El Cajon, CA, senior …
Surname pronounced "Luh-Gwin"; born 1929, in Berkeley, CA; Education: Radcliffe College, A.B., 1951; Columbia University, A.M., 1952. Office—P.O. Box 10541, Portland, OR 97296-0541. Agent—Virginia Kidd, P.O. Box 278, Milford, PA 18337. Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Authors League of America, Writers Guild, PEN, Science Fiction Research Assoc…
1938— Politician, lawyer Kufuor, John Agyekum, photograph. Issouf Sanogo/AFP/Getty Images. John Agyekum Kufuor—often dubbed the "gentle giant" because of his imposing height of six feet, three inches—was elected president of Ghana in 2000 and re-elected in 2004. His 2000 election victory as leader of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) ended almost two decades o…
1962— Nigerian singer, songwriter, bandleader Nigeria's Femi Kuti calls his band Positive Force, and that name illustrates some of the differences between Kuti and his famous father. Kuti is the son of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, an icon of Nigerian music whose protest lyrics were a constant thorn in the side of the country's military government, and who often ended up in prison as a…
1948— Professional basketball player, businessman Bob Lanier—6-foot, 11-inches tall and filling size 22 shoes—entered the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1970 as the number one draft pick of the Detroit Pistons. He played nine and one-half seasons for the Pistons and four and one-half seasons for the Milwaukee Bucks. During his 14 years in the NBA, Lanier amassed 19,2…
Born 1970, in Hudson, WI; Education: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, B.A. (summa cum laude); Mankato State University, M.A. (creative writing and multicultural literature); University of Memphis, M.F.A.; Hollins College, M.A. (Politics: "Democratic Socialist." Religion: "Non-denominational Christian." Hobbies and other interests: Movies, storytelling, fine arts. Ag…
(Fran Lantz) Born 1952, in Trenton, NJ; Education: Dickinson College, B.A., 1974; Simmons College, M.L. S., 1975. Politics: Democrat. Agent—Kendra Marcus, Bookstop Literary Agency, 67 Meadow View Rd., Orinda, CA 94563. Dedham Public Library, Dedham, MA, children's librarian, 1976-79; writer, 1979—. Semi-professional musician in Boston, MA, 1974-79; "nanny" for ba…
1922-1997 Lawyer, government official Jewel Stradford LaFontant became a key player in the fields of law and politics long before the women's movement gained momentum in the 1960s. Her father, renowned U.S. Supreme Court attorney C. Francis Stradford, carefully groomed her to become a pioneer in the male-dominated arena of law. LaFontant achieved many firsts for women in the field, becoming…
Ricardo Lagos: 1938—: Chilean president. The political history of Chilean President Ricardo Lagos will always be defined in relation to former dictator General Augusto Pinochet. In 1973 when Pinochet seized control of the country and installed a right-wing dictatorship, Lagos was forced to flee into exile. When Lagos returned he rose to prominence as an outspoken critic of Pinochet. In …
Libertad Lamarque: 1908-2000: Actor, singer. Argentine actor and singer Libertad Lamarque was "the second biggest export from South America, the first being Carmen Miranda (and she was born in Portugal)," according to Austin Mutti-Mewse of the London Independent. She got her start singing popular Argentine tangos, began her film career in 1929, during the silent film era, and was…
On the same day Charles Lindbergh completed his historic crossing of the Atlantic Ocean—May 21, 1927—Luis Leal stepped off the train at Union Station in Chicago. As with Lindbergh, this Mexican native would become known as a pioneer in his field. Professor Leal helped develop the study of Latin American literature and is considered one of the founders of the field of Chicano/Chicana …
John Leguizamo: 1964—: Comedian, actor. The New York Post once wrote, "John Leguizamo is a force of nature, a volcano of words, a torrent of ideas. He moves a lot, too." He has grown from a prankster who was called a troublemaker in his youth into a comedian and then an actor. Leguizamo has produced, directed, and starred in two solo shows: Spic-o-Rama and Mambo Mouth, an…
(Nicholas J. Charles) Born 1932, in New York, NY; Education: Attended Antioch College, 1950–53; Yale University, B.F.A., 1955. Writer and illustrator. Conducts poetry and writing workshops. Worked variously as an assistant to a fashion photographer, a design underling, and in advertising, "many, many years ago." American Institute of Graphic Arts Book Show awards, 1955–…
Born 1956, in New York, NY. Education: Columbia University, B.A., 1978; New York University, M.F.A., 1984. Office—Walter Kerr Theatre, 225 West 48th St., New York, NY 10036. Agent—Joyce Ketay Agency, 1501 Broadway, Ste. 1908, New York, NY 10036. United Nations Plaza Hotel, New York, NY, switchboard operator, 1979-85; St. Louis Repertory Theatre, St. Louis, MO, assistant director, 198…
Born 1978. Education: Gordon College, B.A. (business administration), 1999. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Dutton, Penguin Putnam, 375 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014. Dancer, writer, and teacher. Formerly worked in finance; Allegro School of Dance, Rochester, NY, dance teacher; participant in Boulder Jazz Dance Workshop. Shapeshifter's Quest, Dutton Children's Books (New York, NY), 2…
Born 1963, in Switzerland. Education: Attended Institut Saint Luc, Brussels, 1984–87; New York School of Visual Arts, B.F.A., 1989. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Houghton Mifflin, 222 Berkeley St., Boston, MA 02116-3764. Illustrator and commercial artist. Numero (periodical), publisher. Exhibitions: Works have been exhibited throughout Europe, Japan, and North America, including Art Direct…
(Roger James Leslie) Born 1961, in Lincoln Park, MI; Ethnicity: "White." Education: University of Houston, B.A. (English education), 1984, M.L.S., 1997; Antioch University, M.A. (creative writing), 1995. Hobbies and other interests: Spiritual studies, cinema, swimming, dachshunds, travel. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Bayou Publishing, 2524 Nottingham, Houston, TX 77005-1412. Freela…
Born 1962, in New York, NY; stepEducation: Syracuse University, B.F.A. (magna cum laude), 1983. Politics: Democrat. Hobbies and other interests: Skiing, sea kayaking, cycling, playing guitar, writing songs. Agent—Barbara Kouts, P.O. Box 560, Bellport, NY 11713. John H. Harland Co., Atlanta, GA, graphic designer, 1983-84; freelance illustrator, 1984—; Atlanta College of Art, Atlanta, …
1976— Professional hockey player Laraque, Georges, photograph. Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images. Georges Laraque is the first black hockey player from French Canada to play in the National Hockey League (NHL). From Montreal, Quebec, he was drafted in 1995 by the Edmonton Oilers. Working as his team's enforcer, Laraque is charged with retaliating against anyone who tries to intimidate…
Given name is pronounced "Fra-nay;" born 1954, in Jersey City, NJ; Education: Attended New School for Social Research, 1973, University of Southern California, 1974, and University of California—Los Angeles, 1975-76. Offıce—c/o Artbeat Publishers, P.O. Box 1110, Fremantle, West Australia 6160, Australia. Agent—Marcia Wernick, Sheldon Fogelman Agency, 10 Ea…
1954— Physician A specialist in geriatrics, Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey has made significant contributions to health care policy in the United States. In addition to maintaining a clinical practice and a teaching career, she has served on numerous committees and has advised the federal government on health care reform. In 2003 she assumed leadership of the country's largest health care p…
