Mark Childress facts for kids

Mark Childress, born in 1957, is an American writer known for his novels. He is often called a "Southern writer" because many of his stories are set in the Southern United States.

About Mark Childress

Early Life and Education

Mark Childress was born in Monroeville, Alabama. As he grew up, his family moved around a lot. He lived in different states like Ohio, Indiana, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

He attended the University of Alabama. While there, he was a member of the Mallet Assembly. This is a special group for students interested in writing and literature.

Career as a Writer

Before becoming a full-time novelist, Mark Childress worked in journalism. In 1978, he was a reporter for The Birmingham News. He also worked as the Features Editor for Southern Living magazine. Later, he became a Regional Editor for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

He used to live in cities like Dallas and New York. Today, he makes his home in Key West, Florida. His writing has been featured in many well-known publications. These include The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and The Times.

His Novels and Books

Mark Childress has written several popular novels. One of his most famous books is Crazy in Alabama. It was first published on July 22, 1993. This novel was later made into a movie. The film was the first one directed by actor Antonio Banderas.

Besides novels for adults, Mark Childress has also written books for younger readers. He created three picture books for children. These fun stories are titled Joshua and Bigtooth, Joshua and the Big Bad Blue Crabs, and Henry Bobbity Is Missing And It Is All Billy Bobbity's Fault.

Awards and Recognition

Mark Childress has received several awards for his writing. He won the Thomas Wolfe Award. The University of Alabama also honored him with their Distinguished Alumni Award. The Alabama Library Association named him their Writer of the Year.

Acclaimed Works

His novel Tender was very popular. It was chosen by the Literary Guild and the Doubleday Book Club. This book also appeared on many "Ten Best of 1990" lists. It was a national bestseller.

Crazy in Alabama also achieved great success. It was selected by the Literary Guild. The book appeared on many bestseller lists and "Ten Best of 1993" lists. The (London) Spectator named it their "Book of the Year" for 1993. The New York Times called it a "Notable Book of the Year." In Germany, it was on the Der Spiegel bestseller list for ten months. The movie based on the book premiered at major film festivals. These included the Venice Film Festival and the San Sebastian International Film Festival.

One Mississippi was another highly praised novel. It was a summer reading choice for "Good Morning America." It was also featured in O: The Oprah Magazine and People magazine. The Los Angeles Times and the Wall Street Journal also recommended it. The book was nominated for the Southeastern Independent Booksellers Association's "Book of the Year" award. Famous author Stephen King even listed One Mississippi as one of his "Ten Best Books of 2006."