Walter Dean Myers (edit name/settings)

Walter Dean Myers was born August 12, 1937, in Martinsburg, West Virginia. When he was two years old, his mother died, leaving his father to cope with eight children. Myers and two of his sisters were taken in by Herbert and Florence Dean, who, although poor, took good care of him. In gratitude, he made Dean his middle name during the 1970s.

They lived in Harlem for most of his youth. He had a severe speech impediment that made his life difficult when he was required to speak. This may have made him somewhat shy and account for the solace he found in reading literature while still in elementary school. His love of books may also explain why he decided to be a writer. After dropping out of high school, he bounced from job to job before joining the army. Upon leaving the army, he began writing in earnest for the National Enquirer and men’s magazines.

He landed a job as an editor at Bobbs-Merrill Company in 1970 and held it until 1977. While at Bobbs-Merrill, Myers quickly learned about the publishing side of professional writing and learned how to put together a book that would satisfy a publisher’s needs. At first, he created picture books for small children. Then he tried his hand at writing fiction, both for young adults and for elementary school-age youngsters. Since then he has been celebrated for his books about African Americans. His success in this area, however, has tended to pigeonhole him as a writer with limited ethnic appeal, even though his writings transcend race and speak to all readers. yeah man i beat you :)