Biographies of American writers, novelists, and screenwriters, including authors whose books became films and TV series. Explore their early lives, major works, and literary careers.
Photography
Sasha Siemel was a Latvian-born American explorer, writer, photographer, and lecturer best known for his years in Brazil’s Mato Grosso and Pantanal. He became internationally famous for accounts of hunting jaguars with a spear, but he was also a popular interpreter of Brazil’s interior for English-speaking
American writers
René Ricard was an American poet, art critic, actor, and downtown New York figure whose writing helped shape how readers encountered Jean-Michel Basquiat in the early 1980s. He is best known for his 1981 Artforum essay, “The Radiant Child,” but his poems and criticism have a force and history
American filmmakers
Rebecca Miller is an American filmmaker, screenwriter, novelist and visual artist best known for writing and directing intimate, character-driven films including Personal Velocity, The Ballad of Jack and Rose, Maggie’s Plan and She Came to Me. Her work examines love, family, work and ambition through people whose plans
American filmmakers
Nev Schulman is an American filmmaker, producer, writer, and television host best known for MTV’s Catfish: The TV Show. He became widely known after the 2010 documentary Catfish followed his own online relationship with someone who was not who she claimed to be. The film helped popularize the modern
American actors
Mickey Knox was an American actor, screenwriter, producer, and author whose career began in 1930s Hollywood and continued through later television and film work. He first became recognizable in tough-guy and juvenile roles, then built a second career as a writer after the Hollywood blacklist disrupted his acting opportunities.
American writers
Lorraine Devon Wilke is an American writer whose public work includes novels, commentary, journalism-style bylines, and screenwriting. She is associated with books including **The Alchemy of Noise**, **After the Sucker Punch**, and **Hysterical Love**, and with the 2001 television film **The Miracle of the Cards**. Readers should confirm a
Children's literature
Lane Smith is an American children’s book author and illustrator known for textured collage art, sly jokes, and picture books that play with the rules of reading. He illustrated landmark books written by Jon Scieszka, including *The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!* and *The Stinky Cheese Man
American writers
Kris Carr is a wellness author, filmmaker, speaker, and entrepreneur who became known after sharing her experience with a rare cancer diagnosis. She created the Crazy Sexy Cancer documentary and a broader wellness platform of books, recipes, programs, courses, community resources, and lifestyle guidance. Her work can offer encouragement around
American actors
Kaki Hunter is the former American actress best known for playing Wendy Williams in the 1980s Porky’s films. Her acting career was brief but memorable, and she later built a separate career in natural building, design and writing, including co-authoring Earthbag Building. The actress and the building author
American writers
Jessica Love is the American author and illustrator best known for the picture book *Julian Is a Mermaid*. She creates children’s books that pair spare, emotionally attentive text with luminous, expressive artwork. Several people share the name Jessica Love, so search results can lead to unrelated artists and public
American writers
Joe Hill is the pen name of Joseph Hillström King, an American author of horror and speculative fiction known for novels, short stories, novellas, and comics. He is Stephen King’s son, but his work has its own voice: strange, emotionally sharp, and focused on the fear that enters families,
American writers
Jennifer Ketcham is the person behind the former adult-entertainment stage name Penny Flame. She became known more broadly through her public recovery story, her appearance on VH1’s Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew, and her memoir, I Am Jennie. The two names refer to the same person at different