June 27 Writer Birthdays
June 27th, 2016 (09:09 am)
June 27 Writer Birthdays
- 1850 - Lafcadio Hearn, international writer best known for his books about Japan, where he was known as Koizumi Yakumo, and for his writings about New Orleans, Louisiana; he was named after the island of Lefkada (a Greek Island in the Ionian Sea) where he was born.
- 1872 - Paul Lawrence Dunbar, African-American poet, novelist, and playwright, much of whose work was written in dialect.
- 1880 - Helen Keller, American author, educator, journalist, and political activist for the deaf and blind, for labor rights, and for women's suffrage; her early autobiography was adapted into several works about her; she was the first deaf and blind person to earn a bachelor's degree
- 1896 - Helen Sewell, Caldecott Honor-winning American children's book author and illustrator; among many other works, she illustrated the first editions of Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House" books.
- 1906 - Catherine Cookson, British novelist, known for her fiction based in northeast England; she also wrote under the pen names Catherine Marchant and Katie McMullen, and was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire; in her lifetime, was the top-selling UK novelist ever.
- 1928 - James Lincoln Collier, Newbery Honor-winning American musician, and author of children's books of historical fiction.
- 1929 - Peter Maas, American journalist and author of non-fiction books, notably several mafia biographies.
- 1936 - Lucille Clifton, American poet, writer, educator, and National Book Award winner; a Poet Laureate of Maryland.
- 1938 - Alan Coren, English humorist, writer, satirist, and panelist on TV and radio quiz shows.
- 1939 - Ivan Doig, American novelist, best known for regional historic fiction set in Montana.
- 1949 - James P. Hogan, Locus Award-winning British author of hard science fiction.
- 1951 - Anita Diamant, bestselling American author of non-fiction and fiction books; her works deal with issues of Jewish practice and the role of women; she is best known for her debut novel, The Red Tent.
- 1953 - Alice McDermott, National Book Award-winning American novelist, essayist, and professor.
- 1956 - Scott Cunningham, American author of books on Wicca, new age practices, and alternative religions.
- 1966 - J.J. Abrams, TV producer and writer, best known for Lost and Fringe.
- 1970 - Cecily von Ziegesar, American author best known for the Gossip Girl books.
- 1971 - Jo Frost, English nanny, television personality, and author of books on child rearing.
- 1975 - Teju Cole, Nigerian-American writer, photographer, and art historian.
- 1985 - Paul Downs Colaizzo, American playwright.
