Ann Rinaldi

Ann Rinaldi is an award-winning author, well-known for her ability to bring history to life in her writings. She was born on August 27, 1934, in New York City and has written over forty novels, with eight of them recognized as notable by the American Library Association (ALA). Rinaldi is particularly famous for her young adult historical fiction, including books such as "In My Father's House," "The Last Silk Dress," "An Acquaintance with Darkness," "A Break with Charity," and "Hang a Thousand Trees with Ribbons."

Before becoming an author, Rinaldi worked as a newspaper columnist and wrote a column called "The Trentonian" for many years, which she continued even after her writing career took off. Her first published novel, "Term Paper," came out in 1979, but she had already written four unpublished books before that, which she has referred to as "terrible." Rinaldi's career as a newspaper columnist and her experience as a mother have significantly influenced her writing. She became a grandmother in 1991, and her love of history can be traced back to her eldest son, who introduced her to historical reenactments.

Rinaldi's writing career is characterized by her prolific output and her dedication to historical fiction. She has written eight books in the Great Episode series, a series of historical fiction novels set during the American Colonial era. Additionally, she has contributed to the Dear America series. Despite her many accolades and successes, Rinaldi continues to write young adult books because she enjoys doing so. She currently resides in Somerville, New Jersey, with her husband, Ron, whom she married in 1960.