Theodore Taylor

Theodore Taylor was born and raised in North Carolina. He dropped out of high school at the age of 17 to begin his career as a writer, first working for a local newspaper. He served in the United States Navy during World War II, then held a series of public relations and newspaper jobs until he resumed active duty with the Navy again for the Korean War. His work in public relations with the navy eventually led to his developing contacts in Hollywood, and he began writing successful screenplays in the early 1970s. Eventually, he turned his Hollywood experience into a children’s book, which launched the next phase of his career. During his life, Taylor would write more than 50 fiction and nonfiction books for both adults and children. He died of a heart attack at the age of 85.