7 Author Shoutouts – Authors We Love To Recommend

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Robert Stone

By Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0

Robert Stone, the writer, was born in Brooklyn, New York. His second novel, Dog Soldiers, explored themes such as the decline of the counterculture in America, skepticism towards authority figures, and the fading idealism of the 1960s. This book earned Stone the National Book Award for Fiction in 1975 and was adapted into the film Who’ll Stop the Rain in 1978. Additionally, Stone has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Literature on two occasions.

Released in 2013, Death of the Black Haired Girl marked his 13th and last novel. On January 10, 2015, at the age of 77, Mr. Stone passed away due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

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Ray Bradbury

Ray Bradbury, a renowned author from the United States, originated from Waukegan, Illinois. Within the realms of fantasy, science fiction, and horror, he crafted a remarkable legacy. Noteworthy works among his repertoire encompass 11 novels, including the revered Martian Chronicles, Fahrenheit 451, and Something Wicked This Way Comes. In addition, Bradbury composed over 300 short stories and collections, such as I Sing the Body Electric and The Illustrated Man.

In 2012, upon the passing of Ray Bradbury at the age of 91, President Barak Obama honored him, stating that his talent for narrative had transformed our society and broadened our horizons.

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Edgar Lee Masters

Edgar Lee Masters, born in Garnett, Kansas in 1868, achieved greatest recognition for his poetry, despite also being known as a novelist, playwright, and biographer. His renowned collection of nontraditional poems, Spoon River Anthology, which vividly portrays everyday life in small towns, garnered immense popularity upon its release in 1915. Even today, it continues to be performed live on stage in high schools and community theaters throughout the United States. Masters passed away at the age of 81 in 1950.

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John Green

John Green hails from Indianapolis, Indiana and had initially aspired to pursue a career in priesthood. However, his involvement with chronically ill children steered him towards the path of writing. In addition to being an esteemed and beloved author of young adult literature with notable works like The Fault in Our Stars, Paper Towns, and Searching for Alaska, John Green is also recognized as a video blogger alongside his brother, Hank. Moreover, he ardently supports the charitable initiative called Project for Awesome with the unwavering support of his enthusiastic fan base known as the Nerdfighters.

The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet, published in 2021, explores his personal battles with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The book earned him a Goodreads Choice Award and an Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction.

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Frederick Forsyth

Frederick Forsyth hails from Ashford, Kent, England and is renowned primarily as a writer of crime and thriller novels. Among his remarkable achievements are the creation of highly acclaimed literary works like The Odessa File, The Fourth Protocol, and The Dogs of War, which have achieved global recognition. Forsyth’s journey as a writer began in the field of journalism, where he honed his research skills, ultimately channeling them into his captivating fictional narratives.

Having won the Edgar Allen Poe Award for Best Novel (in 1971 for Day of the Jackal), he was granted the title of Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1997.

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Zona Gale

Zona Gale, born in Portage, Wisconsin in 1874, was a versatile writer known for her novels, short stories (including the well-received Friendship Village series), poetry, and essays. However, it was her plays that garnered the greatest recognition. Her play Miss Lulu Bett, adapted from her own novel, became the first work by a woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1921. Throughout her life, Gale actively advocated for women’s rights and supported various progressive causes. She passed away at the age of 64 in 1938.

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Lady Antonia Fraser

Lady Antonia Fraser, a London-born author, is renowned for her historical writings and the Jemima Shore detective fiction series. Her own life is equally captivating, having been born into nobility and receiving an education at Oxford. Initially employed by a publishing house, she eventually became their esteemed client. During her marriage to Scottish aristocrat Sir Hugh Frazer, she bore six children. In 1975, Lady Fraser and Sir Hugh narrowly escaped a bombing attempt by the IRA, as an explosive had been attached to their car’s undercarriage. Subsequently, she embarked on a romantic relationship with playwright Harold Pinter, whom she later married.

She was honored with the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire, later elevated to the rank of Dame Commander. Additionally, in 2017, she was bestowed with the distinction of being appointed a Companion of Honour.

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