T. A. Barron facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
T. A. Barron
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Barron in 2008
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| Born | Thomas Archibald Barron March 26, 1952 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Princeton University Harvard University |
| Genre | Fantasy, self help, science fiction |
| Notable works |
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Thomas Archibald Barron (born March 26, 1952) is an American writer. He is famous for his fantasy literature, books for children and young adults, and nature books.
Biography of T. A. Barron
Barron spent his early childhood in Harvard, Massachusetts. This town was full of apple orchards and rich in New England history. His family later moved to Colorado, and he spent much of his youth on a ranch in the Rocky Mountains. Barron's writing shows his deep love for nature. It also reflects his belief in the spiritual values of the natural world. He believes that every person has the power to make a difference.
Education and Career Change
He studied history and politics at Princeton University. After that, he won a Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford University. He also earned business and law degrees from Harvard University. To learn even more, he traveled for a year with a backpack across Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Before becoming a full-time writer, he was the president of a company in New York City. In 1990, he changed his career. He moved back to Colorado with his wife, Currie, and their children. There, he became a full-time writer and worked to protect nature.
Awards and Recognition
Since 1990, T. A. Barron has written over thirty books. These include novels, children's books, and non-fiction books. In 2011, he received The de Grummond Medallion. This award honors a writer's "lifetime contribution to children's and young adult literature." He has also won the Nautilus Award Grand Prize and many other literary awards.
Environmental Work and Young Heroes
T. A. Barron is very active in groups that protect the environment. These include The Wilderness Society and the World Wildlife Fund.
In 2001, he started a special award called the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. This prize is named after his mother. It celebrates amazing young people who help others or the environment. He has also made a documentary film called "Dream Big." He created several videos for his Inspiring Young Heroes website. These videos honor young people from different backgrounds. In 2020, he won a Telly Award for his video work.
Barron also supports education and environmental protection in other ways. He helped create programs at Oxford and Princeton Universities. These programs help students study the environment and develop leadership skills. He also created scholarships for environmental law at Harvard University. He supports scholarships for creative writing at other universities too. The Wilderness Society recently gave him its highest award, the Robert Marshall Award, for his work in conservation.
T. A. Barron as a Writer
In many of his novels, Barron writes about nature and ecology. He often sets these stories in mythical places. He is inspired by nature's ability to renew itself. He is also inspired by people's power to make their own choices. He says, "I truly believe every person can make a difference." This is why he loves writing heroic quest stories.
Popular Books and Themes
His books have won the Nautilus Award Grand Prize. This award is for literature that helps renew the spirit and imagine a better world. He has also won many awards from the American Library Association. The Merlin Saga (13 books) and The Ancient One have been international best sellers. The Great Tree of Avalon trilogy was a New York Times best seller.
Other authors have praised his work. Booklist called his books "completely magical." The New York Times described his work as "compelling." Author Isabel Allende said his writing is "brilliant." Madeleine L'Engle called his stories "a crescendo of miracles."
Podcast: Magic and Mountains
T. A. Barron also has a podcast called Magic and Mountains: The T. A. Barron Podcast. In his podcast, he talks about the magic of Merlin. He also discusses the wonders and challenges of nature. He shares insights into creative writing and the inspiration from young heroes. He invites everyone to see their own life as a story.
Film Adaptations
Disney film studios is working on a film adaptation of The Merlin Saga. In November 2015, Philippa Boyens was hired to write the script. Ridley Scott was in talks to direct it in 2018. By October 2021, Michael Matthews was attached to direct the film. Gil Netter was set as the film's producer.
Works by T. A. Barron
Adventures of Kate Books
- The Heartlight Saga (Combined edition) (2013)
- Heartlight (1990) (Illustrated by Anne Yvonne Gilbert in 2003)
- The Ancient One (1992) (Illustrated by Anne Yvonne Gilbert in 2004)
- The Merlin Effect (1994)
The Atlantis Saga
- Atlantis Rising (2013)
- Atlantis in Peril (2015)
- Atlantis Lost (2016)
- Never Again: The Origins of Grukkar (eBook) (2017)
The Merlin Saga
The Merlin Saga (2011) is a series of 12 books. It was first sold as three separate series. These were The Lost Years of Merlin epic, Merlin's Dragon trilogy, and The Great Tree of Avalon trilogy. The series also includes a prequel, GIANT (2021). The final book, The Book of Magic, is an encyclopedia of the characters and places in the series.
- Prequel
- GIANT (2021)
- The Lost Years of Merlin Epic
- Merlin Book 1: The Lost Years; originally issued as The Lost Years of Merlin (1996)
- Merlin Book 2: The Seven Songs; originally issued as The Seven Songs of Merlin (1997)
- Merlin Book 3: The Raging Fires; originally issued as The Fires of Merlin (1998)
- Merlin Book 4: The Mirror of Fate; originally issued as The Mirror of Merlin (1999)
- Merlin Book 5: A Wizard's Wings; originally issued as The Wings of Merlin (2000)
- Merlin's Dragon Trilogy
- Merlin Book 6: The Dragon of Avalon; originally issued as Merlin's Dragon (2008)
- Merlin Book 7: Doomraga's Revenge (2009)
- Merlin Book 8: Ultimate Magic (2010)
- The Great Tree of Avalon Trilogy
- Merlin Book 9: The Great Tree of Avalon; originally issued as Child of the Dark Prophecy (2004)
- Merlin Book 10: Shadows on the Stars (2005)
- Merlin Book 11: The Eternal Flame (2007)
- The Book of Magic
- Merlin Book 12: Merlin: The Book of Magic (2011), companion to the Merlin Saga
Other Fiction Books
- Tree Girl (2001)
- Ben Barron: How the Boy Became King of Shadows
Picture Books
- Where is Grandpa? (1999)
- High as a Hawk (2004)
- The Day the Stones Walked (2007)
- Ghost Hands (2011)
Books to Inspire (Nonfiction)
- The Hero's Trail: True Stories of Young People to Inspire Courage, Compassion, and Hope (2015)
- The Wisdom of Merlin (2015)
Nature Books
- To Walk In Wilderness (1993)
- Rocky Mountain National Park: A 100 Year Perspective (1995)
Podcast
- Magic & Mountains: The T. A. Barron Podcast (2022)
