Famous author, Celebrity Birthdays

Stanley Martin Lieber, popularly known as Stan Lee, was an American comic book writer, editor, publisher, media producer, television host, actor, and voice actor. He started out his career working as an office boy for the Marvel Comics““which meant fetching lunch, proof reading and refilling artist's ink jars, eventually proving his creative talent, escalated from the position of interim editor to the president of the entire company. He is known for creating superheroes like ˜Spider-Man', ˜The Hulk', ˜X-men', ˜Iron Man', ˜Thor', ˜Doctor Strange', etc. and gained nationwide popularity when he created the superhero series ˜The Fantastic Four' in which he made his superheroes imperfect rather than selling the idea of a perfectly capable superhero. He created these superheroes in collaboration with his colleagues, Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko. He is said to have brought in revolution in the comic world through his satirical writing and bringing in the elements of the real world into the world of these superheroes, which is how he used to make these superheroes viable and responsible. It was Lee who made Marvel Comics a multimedia corporation from just a small division of a publishing house. Apart from creating superheroes and writing story plots for the comics, he also wrote weekly columns and produced many superhero based ventures through his production company.

Anne Frank was one of the thousands of Jewish children who were killed in the Holocaust. She became a well-known name and one of the most discussed victims of the holocaust after her diary ˜The Diary of a Young Girl' was published by her father a couple of years after her death. The diary is today one of the world's best known books and has been translated into several languages. It has also been adapted into many plays and films all over the world. Born in Frankfurt, Germany, during a highly tumultuous period in the nation's history, she moved from Germany to Amsterdam with her family in the early 1930s after the rise of Nazis in her homeland. At the height of the World War II the Germans occupied Netherlands and the Jews were no longer safe in Amsterdam as well. As the persecution of the Jewish population continued to increase, the Frank family was forced to move into hiding. A young teenager who hoped to become a writer on growing up, Anne dutifully wrote in her dairy, documenting her daily life in hiding. She remained hopeful that one day her life would return to normalcy but her hopes were unfounded; she, her mother and sister were killed along with thousands of other Jews in the concentration camps. Only her father survived the war.

Little did she, in her wildest dreams, anticipate that a delayed train journey from Manchester to London would change her life for good! The woman behind the Harry Potter franchise, J K Rowling or simply Joanne Rowling is one of the best-selling authors today. Rowling's is a typical rags to riches story - from living on state benefits to becoming the multi-millionaire author, her life took a complete 180 degree turn when the first book of her conceptualized dream materialized on the bookstand by the name, ˜Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'. The antics of the bespectacled boy and the perfect imagery of the wizardry world left even the best of readers captivated for more. And hence started the journey of Harry Potter and his creator, via King's Cross station, which took both the character and the author to reach the zenith of success and popularity! Today worth billions of dollars, the Harry Potter series, which comprises of 7 books and 8 films, has become the best-selling series of all time and highest grossing film series in history.

Literature without Shakespeare is like an aquarium without fishes. Though it would have all the adoration and kinds, a look at it would tell you that it is lifeless and dead. The world's greatest playwright and writer of English language, William Shakespeare has been conferred with the honour of being England's national poet and ˜Bard of Avon'. An author of 38 plays and 154 sonnets, his work was much more appreciated by the world after his lifetime. Plays written by Shakespeare have been translated into every major language of the world and have been performed extensively than those of any other playwright. Interestingly, such a power profile of a prolific writer went under the knife many a times after his death. Since there is no substantial information regarding the birth, life and death of Shakespeare, his education and his ˜supposed' literary connection, critics raised a controversy number of times as to whether or not he is the ˜real' author behind the works, most of them believing that the work was written by someone else. Across his career, this literary genius has touched various genres of playwriting including comedy, romance, tragedy and history. A respected poet and playwright, it was only in the 19th century that Shakespeare's reputation rose astronomically. While the Romantic considered him genius, the Victorians revered him. Even in the present 21st century, Shakespeare's works are being studied and performed in various cultures. Without a doubt, he is the most prodigious and cherished contributor to the world of literature!

If your four-year old kid cannot but put down his book until he gets through the last page and still years for more tales, you are lucky. But all this luck has nothing to do with you for it is the writer whom you need to thank for churning out the tales. Theodor Geisel, or popularly known by his pen name Dr Seuss, was one of the eminent storytellers of the early 20th century who churned out classic children's tales using imaginative characters and rhyming words. What gave him an upper hand over other writers of his generation was his use of illustration to sustain the interest of young readers. Since an early age, he realised his talent for drawing art creatures and writing rhyming tales. He forayed into the medium of children's literature and soon churned out his first debut book, ˜And To Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street'. The book met with 27 rejections before finally being printed by Vangaurd Press. Upon its release, readers all over America positively accepted the book which led to his penning more books. Over the years, he took up various profiles, working in the animation department during World War II, as an illustrator for advertising campaigns, screen writer for films and illustrated short story writer. It was with the release of his magnum opus, ˜The Cat in the Hat' that he became a prominent name in children's literature. His later works were as successful as ˜The Cat in the Hat' and cemented his position as an illustrator and writer of children's story.

India Westbrooks is a young American internet personality and a reality TV star. She is best known for her appearance in the reality TV series ˜The Westbrooks' that revolves around India and her sisters Brooke, Morgan, Bree, and Crystal. Prior to getting a reality TV series of their own, the sisters had gained much popularity as internet personalities, with each of the girls having her own vast fan base on Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms. India is the youngest of the five sisters and despite her youth, she is the biggest star of ˜The Westbrooks!' She began her online career while still in her early teens by creating her first Tumblr in 2011. Naïve and inexperienced as she was back then, she wasn't able to garner much attention. However, she didn't give up and continued to be active online, posting her glamorous pictures on various social media platforms. Eventually she started gaining attention and was soon catapulted to the status of an upcoming social media star.

One of the most popular writers of contemporary horror, suspense and science fiction, American author Stephen King has published over 50 novels and penned hundreds of short stories. Best known for writing the horror novel ˜It' which revolves around a mysterious maleficent being that terrorizes children, King is undoubtedly one of the most loved horror writers whose writings never fail to incite fear, terror and fright in the minds of the readers. The author who mostly publishes under his real name also used to publish under the pseudonym ˜Richard Bachman'. Funnily enough, the sale of Richard Bachman's books increased manifold after it was revealed that Bachman was none other than Stephen King himself. King is a highly prolific writer and the winner of multiple awards including the prestigious <a title='Bram Stoker' href='/famous/bram-stoker.htm'>Bram Stoker</a> Awards. Growing up King had a difficult childhood as he was raised by a single mother in financially difficult circumstances. While still a small boy he witnessed the horrific death of a friend who was struck and killed by a train in front of his eyes”this incident might have played a role in inspiring some of his darker writings. His first published novel was ˜Carrie' which was so successful that it led to several film and Broadway adaptations.

Roald Dahl became a prominent author penning amazing and humorous stories for children, after his flourishing career in the Royal Air Force ended due to head injuries recurred in a plane crash. He is often considered as one of the greatest children's storytellers of the 20th century, with his short stories being ranked among the world's best-selling fiction books. Such is the recognition and glory of his much-acclaimed best-selling titles that they have been published in over 50 languages across the world. While his children's stories were fast-moving, his adult fiction, on the other hand, gained recognition for its sudden twists and unexpected storylines. Where imaginative plots were the highlights of adult stories, children's fiction usually consisted of word coinages, neologism and puns, like ˜Oompa Loompa', ˜Mugglewump', ˜Fleshlump eater', and Vermicious Knids'. He dedicated two of his best-loved novels “ ˜The BFG' and ˜James and the Giant Peach' to his eldest daughter, Olivia. Numerous of his publications have been made into successful films, while two of his stories ˜Matilda' and ˜Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' were adapted into musical stage plays. Even after his death, his works continue to inspire several budding authors and entertain children and adults alike around the globe.

Jeff Kinney, born as Jeffrey Patrick Kinney is an American Author, cartoonist, game designer, and producer. He is best known for authoring the ˜Diary of a Wimpy Kid' series that features many children's books like ˜Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules', ˜Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw', ˜Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel', ˜Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days', ˜Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book' and ˜Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever', to name a few. Kinney is also the creator of Poptropica, a kid-oriented website. He is the designer of many online games as well. In addition to these, he has also served as the executive producer of the feature films that are based on his ˜Diary of a Wimpy Kid' series and has even acted in them. The American children's author also owns a bookstore and café in Massachusetts. On a personal note, Jeff Kinney is a happily married man and a father of two handsome sons.

Maya Angelou was a distinguished writer who witnessed a lot of domestic crisis as a child. At the young age of seven, she faced abuse in the form of rape, by her mother's boyfriend. Along with her older brother, she was forced to travel places while growing up, unable to settle down in one place for a long time. Despite having a difficult childhood and adolescence, her spirit did not take a beating. She began earning for herself as a cab driver, and then became a dancer and singer. Soon, she learnt several languages on a tour to Europe, and showed a keen interest in English literature. She befriended established African-American writers, who motivated her to pursue writing as a career. Maya published her first autobiography, 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings', at the age of forty-one. The book received favourable reviews and she gradually became an established writer. She also acted in musicals, tried her hand at directing movies, and even writing and producing a documentary. She is also known for her feminist beliefs, which are most evident through her famous poem, 'Phenomenal Woman'. Having campaigned for many charitable causes, and made a mark as a poet, the death of this writer was mourned by many famous people

Sydnie Avery is an American blogger and Instagram star. She is best known as elder sister of the rising pop singer and songwriter <a title='Jack Avery' href='/famous/jack-avery.htm'>Jack Avery</a>, famous as a key member of the five piece American pop man band ˜Why Don't We'. Apart from garnering attention due to her brother's popularity, Avery has also thrived in carving her own entity with her own blog and a clothing store called ˜Sweet Girl'. She also started making her presence felt in social media where she posted several of her pictures on Instagram. With time her popularity in different social media platforms, particularly on Instagram and Twitter bolstered garnering her thousands of followers. On the personal front, this gorgeous damsel has started dating pop artist and Instagram, Vine and YouTube star Devin Hayes. The two often post their pictures together online.

John Green is an American author, vlogger, producer, and editor. He is the New York Times' bestselling author of the novels ˜Looking for Alaska,' ˜An Abundance of Katherines,' ˜Paper Towns,' and ˜The Fault in Our Stars.' His books have been translated and published in more than 55 languages, and over 24 million copies have been printed. Green, who has won several awards for his books, is a major critic of his own books. Critics have credited him for creating a new direction in the young adult fiction world. Some even credit him for ushering in a new golden era for realistic teen fiction. In fact, ˜The New York Times' used the term "GreenLit" to describe his young adult books. The mayor of Indianapolis proclaimed July 14, 2015, as "John Green Day" in his city and the mayor of Orange County declared July 17 as John Green Day. Besides his best selling books, he is also famous for his YouTube projects. Green and his brother stopped textual communication, and began to talk through videos, and with these videos was born the ˜VlogBrothers' YouTube channel. Later they launched ˜Crash Course for Kids,' an educational YouTube channel, and both the channels have a large number of subscribers and views. He is also an active Twitter user with more than 5 million followers.

Children's book author who wrote the popular Dork Diaries series. The series follows a diary format and chronicles the struggles of middle school student, Nikki Maxwell.

American fantasy author of several award-winning and bestselling book series. His best-known works include Percy Jackson & the Olympians, The Kane Chronicles, the Tres Navarre books, and The Maze of Bones. 

Beverly Clearly is an American author. She is one of the most famous writers of children's books. Her characters such as ˜Henry Huggins,' ˜Ribsy,' ˜Ramona,' and ˜Beezus,' were synonymous with the growing ages of children of the United States. Cleary started as a librarian in a children's library, where she helped the young ones to select books suited to them. This interaction with children helped Cleary to realize that children longed to read about characters that had lives similar to theirs. The concept of literary realism was new in the days when she started writing. Cleary found a way into the minds of children through the realistic and humorous portrayal of the life of children from middle class families. All books written by her were set in the neighborhoods of Grant Park in Oregon, where she spent her childhood. Her first characters were a boy named ˜Henry,' and his dog, ˜Ribsy.' Later, she included other characters, and diversified her books, always focusing on the day-to-day lives of ordinary children. Her books are loved by the young and old alike. Beverly Cleary won several awards and accolades for her books. She is currently leading a peaceful life in a retirement home, in Carmel Valley, California.

American young adult author who is best known for his Goosebumps series. His other horror fiction series include the Fear Street, Mostly Ghostly, and Nightmare Room books. 

Dame Jacqueline Wilson is an English author who is famous for her children's book series known as the ˜Tracy Beaker' series. Born and raised in Somerset, England, she was always inclined toward literature and was an avid reader since childhood. She wrote her first short novel at the age of 9. At the age of 16, she quit school. She was not interested in any other subject except English and did not really pay attention to academics. Once out of high school, she started training to become a secretary. She bagged a job as a writer at a publishing company. Jacqueline got married at the age of 19 and started writing books soon after. For the next two decades, she wrote many books and achieved moderate success. In 1991, she released the first installment of the ˜Tracy Beaker' series, ˜The Story of Tracy Beaker.' The immense success of the first book allowed her to release three sequels. Soon, Jacqueline ended up becoming one of the most successful English authors of all time. She has been honored with several awards, and many of her works have been converted to TV series.

Poet whose material has focused on subjects ranging from feminism to African culture. She gained significant attention after reading her poem "The Hill We Climb" at the January 2021 inauguration of U.S. President Joe Biden. At the age of 22, she became the youngest poet ever to read at a presidential inauguration.

Perez Hilton is the stage name of Cuban-American blogger, columnist and television personality Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr., who gained notoriety for his celebrity gossip blog PerezHilton.com. Soon after he started the blog, it became one of the most hated websites for his unapologetic endorsements of certain celebrities and unreasonable criticism of others. He is just as famous for his gossip-mongering as he is for the numerous lawsuits against him by several paparazzi photographers and celebrities, who claim that his fame and fortune is built upon the work of others as he very often uses copyrighted materials without taking permission. Even though he has been very vocal about gay rights as a gay person himself, he has drawn the ire of many gay rights activist for his controversial comments and behaviors, including his attempts at ˜outing' gay celebrities like former 'N Sync member Lance Bass and actor Neil Patrick Harris. Perez Hilton, who claims to have created an empire through his eponymous blogging website, record label Perezious Music, fashion website CoCoPerez.com and bestselling books among other things, intends to become the gay Latino Oprah.

Poet turned social media star best known under the moniker Click for Taz. She's popular for her spoken word poetry and "Taz Talks" videos on her YouTube channel, which now boasts over 500,000 subscribers as well as 30 million views.

Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer, poet, editor and literary critic, who was also associated with the American Romantic Movement. He is better known for his tales of mystery and macabre. He was amongst the earliest American practitioners of short story and was generally considered as the inventor of the detective-fiction genre. Poe is also credited for his contribution in the emerging genre of science fiction. His works greatly influenced American literature and also other specialized fields like, cosmology and cryptography. His best known fiction works were generally Gothic and dealt with themes like the effects of decomposition, concerns of premature burial, the reanimation of the dead, and mourning. Poe's works are also considered as the part of dark romanticism genre. He became famous for his popular poems like, ˜The Raven' and Annabel Lee.

English blogger known for running her self-titled blog, which covers topics like food and theatre. She's also been a presenter for the YouTube channels Inform Overload and Most Amazing Top Ten.

One of the most widely read English authors of all time Charles Dickens is famous for his novels that touch upon the sensitive issues of poverty, child labour, and slavery. During a time, when depravity and oppression were the norms of English society, this talented writer had the courage to voice his opinions against these conditions. Gathering inspiration from his childhood experiences of poverty and insecurity, his novels are usually semi-autobiographical. This author was gifted with a powerful memory, and most of the characters in his novels are based on people he met and got acquainted with. This includes his own parents, who were the models for characters Mr. and Mrs. Micawber in the famous novel ˜David Copperfield'. The characters created by this novelist are popular because of their idiosyncrasies and quirky names. Some of his popular novels are 'Oliver Twist', 'A Christmas Carol', and 'Hard Times', amongst many more. Though known for his social commentary on the prevalent conditions in England, the literary works of novelist gained popularity amongst readers, editors and publishers alike. His books have seen more than 200 adaptations for the big screen, including 'The Pickwick Papers', a silent movie made in the early 20th century.

Chespirito, born as Roberto Gómez Bolaños, was a Mexican screenwriter, comedian, actor, songwriter and director. He was internationally famous for writing, directing, and starring in the TV series ˜Chespirito', ˜El Chavo del Ocho' and ˜El Chapulín Colorado'. He was also known as a writer of the movies 'Los legionarios', 'Angelitos del trapecio', 'Los tigres del desierto', 'El dolor de pagar la renta', 'Pegando con tubo' and 'El camino de los espantos'. Chespirito has been widely regarded as one of the most recognized Latin and Spanish-language comedians of the 20th century. He was popular in all of Latin America. Till date, the Mexican humorist is revered for his creative writing, comedic pick-up lines, characterization, and clean comedy style. His TV shows have been broadcast all across the globe and have been translated into 50+ languages. The great Mexican artiste Chespirito died in 2014 from heart failure at the age of 85. On a personal note, he married twice in his lifetime and fathered six children.