'Like keeping in touch with friends'

 

“The characters I'm most emotionallyinvolved with are like friends you leave behind when you move away. You don'tsee them regularly anymore, but you still love them and keep in touch.” –Mary Doria Russell

 

Born in Illinois on this date in1950, Russell, who now resides in Cleveland, OH, has authored 7 novels, earningacclaim for all.   

 

Planning to be an anthropologist,she already had earned a doctorate in biological anthropology and was teaching anatomyas a “post-doc” at Case Western dental school when she tried her hand atwriting, authoring a Sci-Fi tale called The Sparrow.  A massive bestseller and winner of numerousprizes – including the prestigious Arthur C. Clarke Award – it led to her earning“Best First Novelist” accolades and put her on a new career path.

 

Among her other top titles are asequel to The Sparrow called Children of God, the historical murdermystery  Doc, about notoriousgunfighter, gambler and dentist John Henry “Doc” Holiday, and her most recenttitle The Women of the Copper Country. Set in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the meticulously researched noveltells the story of the young union organizer Annie Clements, once known asAmerica’s Joan of Arc. 

 

“Wisdom begins when youdiscover the difference between ‘That doesn’t make sense’ and ‘I don’tunderstand,' " she said.  "I don’t have much in theway of advice, but here it is:  Read tochildren.  Vote.  And never buy anything from a man who’sselling fear.”