Born 1946, in Naugatuck, CT; Education: Pratt Institute, graduate in graphic arts (with honors), 1968. Hobbies and other interests: Victorian crafts and furnishings. Agent—Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency, 548 Broadway, #5E, New York, NY 10012. Illustrator and author. Children's Book Showcase Award, Children's Book Council, 1974, for The Throme of the Errill of Sherill; best bo…
Born 1960, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; stepEducation: Attended Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. Hobbies and other interests: Cooking, catering, books, music, film. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Allen & Unwin, 9 Atchinson St., Sidney, New South Wales 2065, Australia. Children's book author. Worked variously as a forest ranger, secretary, caterer, life model, waitress, gra…
Born in Cincinnati, OH; Education: Studied stone sculpture and sho (brush calligraphy) in Japan; studied painting, printmaking, and drawing in England, Austria, and Germany. Agent—c/o AFSA, 221 Lobos Ave., Pacific Grove, CA 93950. Author, illustrator, and artist. Eisner Award; Gold Medal, Society of Illustrators. Dracula: A Symphony in Moonlight and Nightmares (based on the story by Bram St…
Born 1962, in Trenton, NJ; Education: Attended Kutztown State University, 1980–81; attended School of Visual Arts (New York, NY). Hobbies and other interests: Reading, hiking, biking, gardening, cooking. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Roaring Brook Press, 143 West St., New Milford, CT 06776. Author and illustrator of children's books, and educator. Pegasus Players, Sheppton, PA, pupp…
1965(?)– Physician Dr. Nawal M. Nour established the first, and to date only, hospital center in the United States devoted to the medical needs of African women who have undergone female genital cutting (FGC), also known as female circumcision. Nour helped to develop a surgical procedure that can help alleviate some of the negative effects of FGC, such as urinary tract infections, painful m…
1947— Mayor For Marilyn Murrell, the tiny Oklahoma town of Arcadia has always been a big enough world to live in. Born and raised in Arcadia, Murrell has never lived away from her hometown for more than a few years. However, within her tightly woven community of family and friends, she has created a groundbreaking career of public service. When it appeared that Arcadia might be absorbed int…
Born in Washington, DC; Education: Graduated with honors from Pratt Institute. Office—6977 Navajo Rd., Suite 124, San Diego, CA 92119. Artist and illustrator. Has painted commissioned works for corporations and publishers, including Dreamworks, Nike, Coca-Cola, and Major League Baseball. Conceptual artist for motion pictures, including Amistad and Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. Exhibitio…
Born 1932, in Pelotas, Brazil; married. Writer, translator, and actor. Member of theatre troupe Theatre Duse and of Repertoire Theatre of Henriette Morineau; cofounder of rural school, TOCA. Presenter of dramatic monologues at libraries, universities, and cultural centers. Jabuti award, 1973; Hans Christian Andersen award, 1982, for body of children's books; Moli'ere prize, Theatre C…
1970— Singer Haydain Neale, charismatic lead singer of Canadian super group jacksoul, has made a name for himself with intelligent lyrics served up with a deep side of soul. His songs exalt love, kindness, and joy—decidedly un-cool traits in an urban music market defined by guns, gangstas, and gratuitous sex. Neale is unrepentant. "This is the world that I bought into and this…
1941— Actor Ntshona, Winston, photograph. Evening Standard/Getty Images. One of the most widely acclaimed plays internationally during the last decades of the twentieth century was The Island, which began its theatrical life in secret performances held in apartheid-era South Africa in 1973. The play was partly the creation of Winston Ntshona, one of the actors who appeared in it. The…
Born 1933, in Anderson, IN; Education: Joliet Junior College, diploma, 1953; American University, B.A., 1963. Politics: Independent. Religion: Unitarian Universalist. Hobbies and other interests: Music, drama, hiking, swimming. Agent—John Hawkins and Associates, Inc., 71 West 23rd St., Suite 1600, New York, NY 10010. Elementary school teacher in Hazel Crest, IL, 1956; Montgomery County Educ…
Born 1969; Education: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, B.A. (English and psychology); Colorado State University, M.A. (English); Vermont College, M.F.A. (writing). Hobbies and other interests: Reading, going on walks, playing with her children, watching movies. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Dutton Childrens/Penguin Putnam, 375 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014. Writer. Formerly worked as a…
Born 1934, in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England; Education: Attended Sternhold College, London; studied at Italia Conti Stage School and Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. Hobbies and other interests: Needlepoint. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Chatto & Linnit, 123-A Kings Rd., London SW3 4PL, England. Actress and author. Actress in films, including The L-shaped Room, 1962; The Wrong Arm of t…
Born 1936, in Vienna, Austria; Education: Attended art school in Vienna, Austria. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Random House, Andersen Press, 20 Vauxhall Bridge Rd., London SW1V 25A, England. Journalist for a Vienna daily newspaper; writer. Friedrich-Bödecker prize, 1972, for contribution to children's literature; Buxtehuder Bulle award, 1973, for Fly Away Home; German youth literatu…
(Walter M. Myers) Born 1937, in Martinsburg, WV; raised from age three by Herbert Julius (a shipping clerk) and Florence (a factory worker) Dean; (second marriage) Christopher. Education: Attended City College of the City University of New York; Empire State College, B.A., 1984. New York State Department of Labor, New York, NY, employment supervisor, 1966-70; Bobbs-Merrill Co., Inc. (publisher), N…
Born 1929, in Peking, China; immigrated to United States, 1938; Education: Attended Radcliffe College, 1947-49; University of California, Berkeley, B.A., 1951, M.A., 1952. Hobbies and other interests: Music ("prefer to make it myself badly than to hear it performed superbly"). Agent—Ruth Cohen, Box 2244, La Jola, CA 92038-2244. Wells College, Aurora, NY, instructor in mathemat…
Born 1953, in San Diego, CA; Education: Willamette University, B.A., 1975; Stanford University, M.A., 1976. Religion: Christian Hobbies and other interests: Travel, skiing, beach bodysurfing. Offıce—c/o Frederiksen Elementary School, 7243 Tamarack Dr., Dublin, CA 94568. Teacher and writer. Frankfurt International School, Oberursel, Germany, teacher, 1989-92; American Community School…
Born 1930, in Park Ridge, NJ; Education: New York University, B.S., 1959. Children's author and editor. Franklin Watts (publisher), New York, NY, children's book editor, c. 1970s; R.R. Bowker (publisher), New York, NY, senior editor for reference and professional books, c. 1980s. Military service: U.S. Navy, journalist, 1951–55. The First Book of Rivers, Franklin Watts (New Yo…
Born 1956, in Birmingham, AL; Education: University of North Carolina at Greensboro, B.S., 1979; Ohio State University, M.S. (dance), 1981. Hobbies and other interests: Reading, hiking, running, swimming, "I love to move and be outside." Agent—c/o Author Mail, Harcourt Brace & Company, 525 B St., Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101-4495. Writer. Teacher of dance, 1981-84. …
Born 1967, in New York, NY; divorced); Education: Yale University, B.A. Agent—Ginger Knowlton, Curtis Brown Ltd., 10 Astor Place, New York, NY 10003. Singer, songwriter, and writer. The Nields (musical group), performer beginning 1991; musician performing with sister, Katryna Nields, beginning 1998; writing workshop leader. Vocalist on recordings (with The Nields), including 66 Hoxsey Stre…
Born 1945, in San Francisco, CA; (second marriage) one daughter. Education: Attended College of San Mateo, 1963–65; San Jose State College (now University), B.A., 1967, M.A., 1968. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Hyperion Books, 114 5th Ave., New York, NY 10011. Author and illustrator. San Mateo County Library, Belmont, CA, graphic artist, 1970–77; Canada Junior College, Redwood City, …
Born 1960, in Mons, Belgium; children: Else. Children's book author and poet. Has also worked as a French teacher, television scriptwriter, and journalist. Hans Christian Andersen ambassador, 2005. Literary prize, c. 1978; recipient of several other awards. Le lion fanfaron, Casterman, 1991. Romulus et Rémi, une fable à l'opèra, Pastel (Paris, France), 1994. Dima…
Born 1953, in Crystal Springs, MS; Education: Northeastern Illinois University, B.A. (special education), 1975; Loyola University, M.Ed., 1981. Agent—Kia Neri, c/o Harcourt Janet Ross, c/o HarperCollins Children's Books, 1350 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019. National Council of Teachers of English, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Authors Guild, …
(Görel Kristina Carheden) Born 1940, in Röbäck, Sweden; partner's name Gullmar. Education: Degree in home economics; University of Minnesota, studied journalism; Karolinska Institutet, Ph.D. (psychology). Hobbies and other interests: Skiing, cooking. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Kärnhuset, Drottning Kristinas väg 19, 193 35 Sigtuna, Sweden. Psychologist,…
1959- Singer, composer, drummer Youssou N'Dour is an international star in the field of popular music that has come to be known as "Afropop" or "world beat." He is a singer, composer, and drummer whose style has been given the name "mbalax." N'Dour's own particular brand of mbalax has become so popular and widespread that he is often c…
Born 0027;s name Ruth; Education: Parsons School of Design, B.F.A., 1975. Hobbies and other interests: Skiing, surfing, reading. Agent—Tammy Shannon, Shannon Associates, 333 W. 57th St., Ste. 801, New York, NY 10019. Artist and illustrator. Push Pin Press, former researcher; New York Times, New York, NY, contributing editorial illustrator, 1974–84; Inxs, Inc. (artists' politi…
1962- Television broadcaster Though her last name is revered in musical circles, Arthel Neville was on her own when she decided to pursue a career in television. "Believe me, the name Neville didn't do anything for me in the field of journalism," she told New Orleans Magazine. Nonetheless, Neville has gone from a station intern for a local Texas channel to a nationally famous …
Born 1967; Education: Radcliffe College, B.A. (cum laude), 1967; Harvard Graduate School of Education, M.A.T., 1968; Teachers College, Columbia University, M.A., 1980. Educator, actress, editor, and writer. Teacher in adult education programs in Boston, MA, area, 1968-71; actress in regional theater and Off-Broadway productions, 1971-80; teacher of creative drama at arts programs in Boston, Washin…
Also writes as Colin Johnson and Mudrooroo Narogin. Nationality: Australian. Born: East Cubbaling, Western Australia, 1938. Education: Brought up in a Roman Catholic orphanage. Career: Lived in India for 6 years, three as a Buddhist monk. Holds the Chair of Aboriginal Studies at Murdech University, Perth. Awards: Wieckhard prize, 1979; Western Australia Literary award, 1989; WA Premier's Bo…
Education: B.A. (English); studied illustration at Parsons School of Design. Agent—Herman Agency, 350 Central Park West, New York, NY 10025. Artist and illustrator. My Cherry Tree, Korean Montessori Press, 2003. Nancy Lindenauer and Edythea Ginis Selman, School and Me, Holt, Rinehart and Winston (New York, NY), 1979. David E. Fisher, The Creation of Atoms and Stars, Holt, Rinehart and Wins…
Born 1954, in Malmö, Sweden; Education: Trained as a mathematics and music teacher. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Rabén & Sjögren, Box 2052, 102 12 Stockholm, Sweden. Novelist. Taught math and music in Swedish secondary school; freelance writer, 1999—. Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis, 1997, and Silver Kiss award (Holland), 1999, both for Heart's Delight; Astrid L…
Nationality: American. Born: Nokomis, Alabama, 1916. Education: Tuskegee Institute, B.S. 1939; New York University, M.A. 1948; postgraduate work at University of Michigan, 1940, Northwestern University, 1941, and University of Paris, 1950. Military Service: U.S. Air Force, 1943-62, including service during World War II; retired as major. Career: Instructor, Tuskegee Institute, 1940-43, 1946-51, di…
Nationality: Indian. Born: Sialkot (now in Pakistan), 1927. Education: The University of Delhi, M.A. in English 1948; University of Nottingham (British Council scholar), 1959-61, Ph.D. in English 1961. Career: Lecturer at universities in India, 1949-62; reader in English, Rajasthan University, Jaipur, 1962-63; reader in English, 1963-80, and professor of English, University of Delhi, 1980-92; visi…
Nationality: Trinidadian. Born: Trinidad, 1932; brother of the writer Shiva Naipaul. Education: Tranquillity Boys School, 1939-42; Queen's Royal College, Port of Spain, Trinidad, 1943-49; University College, Oxford, 1950-54, B.A. (honors) in English 1953. Career: Editor, "Caribbean Voices," BBC, London, 1954-56; fiction reviewer, New Statesman, London, 1957-61; contributor to …
Nationality: Indian. Born: Madras, 1906. Education: Collegiate High School, Mysore; Maharaja's College, Mysore, graduated 1930. Career: Teacher, then journalist, early 1930s; owner, Indian Thought Publications, Mysore. Awards: Sahitya Academy award, 1961; Padma Bhushan, India, 1964; National Association of Independent Schools award (U.S.A.), 1965; English-Speaking Union award, 1975; Royal S…
Nationality: American. Born: New York City, 1950. Education: Brooklyn College, New York, B.A. in English 1981; Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, 1981-83, M.A. in Afro-American Studies 1983. Career: Missionary for the Jehovah's Witnesses, New York, North Carolina, and Florida, 1968-75; telephone operator, New York City hotels, 1975-81. Writer-in-residence, Cummington Community of the …
Nationality: South African. Born: Ladysmith, Natal Province, South Africa, 1913. Education: St. Peter's High School, Resettenvelle, Johannesburg, 1929-31; Amanzimtoti (Adams') College, 1933-34, earned teaching certificate; University of Witwatersrand, A.B. in Zulu language and political science 1948. Career: Assistant teacher, Khaiso Secondary School, 1935-45; assistant teacher, Mad…
Nationality: American. Born: New York City, 1938. Education: Columbia University, New York, B.A. 1959 (Phi Beta Kappa); Indiana University, Bloomington, M.A. 1963. Career: Junior executive trainee, General Motors Corporation, Indianapolis, 1960; English teacher, Saddle River Country Day School, New Jersey, 1961-62; teacher, New York City public high and junior high schools, 1963-66; preceptor in E…
Nationality: British. Born: 1963. Lawrence Norfolk's formidable reputation rests upon a small collection of works. The success of Lemprière's Dictionary, an erudite, intricately designed, and densely textured novel, derives chiefly from its pastiche of literary forms and sensibilities even more varied than its range of geographical and temporal settings (from England to India, f…
Nationality: American. Born: Toledo, Ohio, 1949. Education: Graduated form Western Michigan University; graduate study at the Folklore Institute of Indiana University. Career: Worked variously as a translator for the World Society for the Protection of Animals, as a member of a fire crew in Manitoba, Canada, and as a field naturalist; instructor in Native American literature, University of Marylan…
Nationality: British. Born: London, 1939. Education: Dormans Land, Surrey; Hamlet Court, Westcliff, Essex; Southend High School, Essex. Career: Since 1961 freelance writer: since 1967 poetry editor, the Scotsman, Edinburgh; since 1971 poetry critic, the Times, London. Writer-in-residence, University of Edinburgh, 1976-77. Awards: Eric Gregory award, 1963; Scottish Arts Council bursary, 1970, 1973,…
(Eric Beddows) Born 1951 (one source says 1956), in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada. Education: Attended York University (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), 1970-72. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Laura Geringer Books, 1350 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10019. Illustrator. The Gallery, Stratford, Ontario, Canada, educator and installer and lighter of exhibitions for nine years. Exhibitions: Included in ex…
Born 1944, in Lexington, KY; Education: University of Kentucky, B.A., 1967, M.A., 1982, Ph.D., 1987. Hobbies and other interests: Collecting antique writing materials. Office—Center for Inquiry, P.O. Box 703, Amherst, NY 14226. Paranormal investigator, author, and educator. Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), Washington, DC, volunteer worker in Carroll County, GA, 1967–68; prof…
1952— Journalist, novelist Many journalists dream of working for the Washington Post, one of the nation's largest and most prestigious newspapers. For Jill Nelson, that dream came true—and gradually turned into a nightmare. A freelance reporter for national magazines prior to becoming a staff writer with the Washington Post, Nelson found her style incompatible with the corpora…
1929— Religious leader The Rev. Cecil (Chip) Murray is the religious leader every spiritually-conscious person would like to follow. A man of exceptional integrity, he heads a church whose congregants have included Dionne Warwick and Arsenio Hall, a church supported by an annual budget of tens of millions of dollars, which is nevertheless a church that takes loving care of the less fortunat…
1982— Violinist Violinist Tai Murray is a rising young star within the world of classical music, and only in her early 20s, she has already been rising for over a decade. Known for her beautiful, mature phrasing and graceful bow work, Murray has received critical acclaim from coast to coast. She has also drawn attention as one of the few African-American musicians involved in classical musi…
1905-2003 Biologist, educator, university president A celebrated marine biologist who specialized in studying the ability of fish to regrow their fins after injury or disease, Samuel Nabrit was the first black representative on the United States Atomic Energy Commission. In a long career, Nabrit found success on many fronts. He was the first alumnus of Morehouse College to receive a doctorate and …
1960(?)— Television executive Norman, Christina, photograph. Scott Gries/Getty Images. Christina Norman was named president of the cable channel VH1 in early 2004, a career achievement that made her one of the highest-ranking African Americans in the television industry. For two years prior to that, Norman had been instrumental in helping revive ratings at VH1, which had been struggl…
Born 1972, in South Korea; Ethnicity: "Korean." Education: Amherst College, B.A., 1994; Vermont College, M.F.A., 2000. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Front Street Books, 20 Battery Park Ave., Asheville, NC 28801. Writer. Taught English and history at the middle school level. A Step from Heaven (young adult novel), Front Street Books (Asheville, NC), 2001. A Step from Heaven was adapt…
Born 1940, in Chicago, IL; Hobbies and other interests: Golf, pocket billiards, following the St. Louis Cardinals "with passion." Office—P.O. Box 226, River Grove, IL 60171. Writer, songwriter, and musician, 1962—. American Federation of Musicians, American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers. Bicentennial Folk Song Award, Loyola University, 1976, for "…
Born 1969, in New South Wales, Australia; Education: Attended City Art Institute; Meadowbank TAFE College, associate diploma in fine art, 1988; apprenticed to painter Tom Tompson, 1989. Religion: Buddhist. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Allen & Unwin, P.O. Box 8500, St. Leonards, New South Wales 1590, Australia. Rexel Derwent Drawing Prize, 1986; grants from the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Trus…
Office—University of Connecticut, Department of English, Box U-4025, 215 Glenbrook Rd., Storrs, CT 06269-1025. Society for the Study of Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United States, Society for Values in Higher Education, Associated Writing Programs, Phi Kappa Phi. Marilyn Nelson (As Marilyn Nelson Waniek) For the Body, Louisiana State University Press (Baton Rouge, LA), 1978. (As M…
Known as one of the twentieth century's most important Latin American poets, Pablo Neruda was "the most frequently discussed Latin American poet of his time. Today, years after his death, his eventful life still evokes great interest, and his works arouse great admiration," according to The Scribner Writers Series. He was also an avid participant in the political arena. He is …
Born 1969 (deceased, c. 1999); Education: Attended University of Central Oklahoma. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Walker Books, 104 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10011. Writer and educator. Taught high school and junior-high English in Tulsa and Norman, OK, and New York, NY; Chandler Junior High School, Chandler, OK, eighth-grade English teacher; currently full-time writer. Society of Children's…
Grace Napolitano: 1936—: Politician, business executive. A political force from urban Southern California, Grace Flores Napolitano has made an impact on U. S. congressional legislation affecting water and soil clean-up, teen suicide prevention, worker training, and the protection of small businesses and jobs for minorities. A retired business executive and concerned parent and citizen, …
Born 1950, in Georgetown, Guyana; moved to England, 1977; companion of John Agard (a poet); Education: University of Guyana, diploma (communications). Agent—Anthea MortonSaner, Curtis Brown, 162-68 Regent St., London W1R STB, England. Poet, author of fiction, and editor. Teacher, 1969–70; Georgetown Chronicle, Georgetown, Guyana, reporter, 1972–73; Government Information Servi…
Antonia Novello: 1944—: Pediatrician. Antonia Novello overcame childhood poverty and illness to become one of the leading doctors in America. She was trained as a pediatrician and served in the United States Public Health Service. After spending several years at the National Institute of Health, Novello was appointed United States Surgeon General by President George Bush. She was the fi…
Born 1961, in Tokyo, Japan. Agent—Christopher Little Literary Agency, 10 Eel Brook Studios, 125 Moore Park Rd., London SW6 4PS, England. Artist and writer. Exhibitions: Work has been exhibited at galleries and museums, including at Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum, Rutgers, NJ. Society of American Graphic Artists, National Association of Women Artists. Gail Cohen Edelman Memorial Award, S…
1919–2005 Dance historian Joe Nash's obsession with dance spanned half a century. A self-taught dancer, he whirled his way across stages on Broadway and in London. He danced with, collaborated with, or coached some of the most important African-American dancers and choreographers in the world. However, Nash's most significant contribution to dance was created off-stage, in the…
1952— College president, political scientist Newman, Lester C., photograph. AP/Wide World Photos Reproduced by permission. Dr. Lester C. Newman, president of Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) in Itta Bena, Mississippi, has become nationally-known for his achievements in improving the funding and administration of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Newman t…
1928-2003 Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Nix, Robert N.C., Jr., photograph. AP/Wide World Photos Reproduced by permission As the first African American to head any state supreme court, Robert N.C. Nix Jr. holds an historic place in the United States legal system. He was born into a family of high achievers. His grandfather was born a slave but earned a doctorate in mathematics an…
