PROFILE
Bestselling author, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, and social critic Anna Quindlen’s library of work provides perspectives on daily life, delicately balancing the political with the personal. Her astute commentaries on everything from women’s issues to public policy to presidential elections translate into her popular fiction and non-fiction books and appear in the world’s most influential newspapers and magazines.
In total, 12 of Quindlen’s books, including six of her novels, have appeared on The New York Times Best Sellers list. One True Thing: A Novel became a feature film starring Renee Zellweger and Meryl Streep. Blessings and Black and Blue were both made into TV movies. Her book, A Short Guide to A Happy Life, sold well over one million copies. It was followed by Being Perfect; Good Dog. Stay, about her beloved black Labrador, Beau; and the novel, Every Last One.
Quindlen’s latest book, a memoir on aging, Lots Of Candles, Plenty Of Cake was published in April 2012 and debuted at #1 on The New York Times Best Sellers list.
Recently named one of the top “100 Outstanding Journalists in the United States of the Last 100 Years,” Quindlen began her career at age 18 as a copy girl. She spent three years as a reporter for The New York Post before being hired by The New York Times in 1977. Working her way up The Times’ masthead, Quindlen wrote the “About New York” column, served as deputy metropolitan editor, and created the weekly “Life in the 30’s” column.
In 1990 Quindlen became the third woman in The New York Times’ history to write for its influential Op-Ed page. Her nationally syndicated column “Public and Private” won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1992. Leaving the newspaper world, Quindlen went on to write the prestigious “Last Word” column for Newsweek for ten years. She continues to contribute to the magazine.
Quindlen serves on the Board of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and is an American Academy of Arts and Sciences Fellow. Recognizing Quindlen’s work as a social commentator, The Child Welfare League of America established "The Anna Quindlen Award for Excellence in Journalism on Behalf of Children and Families” in 1995. She holds honorary degrees from more than twenty colleges and universities and recently served as the chair of World Book Night US 2012.
For a biography of Anna Quindlen, click here
“As a speaker, Anna Quindlen received a standing ovation from our audience of over 2,200. She was very friendly to everyone and gave one hundred plus percent of herself at each phase of our event.”
-Maryville University