About Me

I live in South Salem, NY with my Yellow Lab, Riley. I have three grown sons Anthony, Matthew and Adam. Anthony and his wife, actress Amelia Campbell, live in Brooklyn and Matthew lives in NY so I get to see them a lot. Adam and his family live in Los Angeles. We visit often, but I miss seeing more of them. I have four grandchildren, Molly, Sam, Abigail and Emmet.

In addition to my writing, acting and family time I also love to sing. I study voice in New York City with Jaqueline Horner Kwiatek. Jacqui is a member of Anonymous 4 the well-known classical group. I belong to a chorus in Westchester, Hudson Chorale. We give two or three concerts a year in Westchester and New York City. I love to sing jazz.

I take pilates classes, go the theater, see movies, read, enjoy my friends and take long walks with Riley. I love animals. I love to travel. Often in June I go to Yellowstone National Park to look for wolves with my friend, author Jean Craighead George. We have made eight trips so far. We found wolves every time. The last time we went we found a den and several wolf pups!

Author, Actor, Editor...

BARBARA DANA is an award-winning author of books for children and young adults. Her books include Zucchini, Zucchini Out West, Crazy Eights, Necessary Parties, Rutgers and the Water Snouts, Spencer and his Friends and Young Joan, a historical novel based on the life of Joan of Arc. Her new novel, A Voice of Her Own: Becoming Emily Dickinson, is available March 1, 2009 (HarperCollins Publishers).

She is the co-editor of the recent release, Wider than the Sky: Essays and Meditations on the Healing Power of Emily Dickinson. She co-wrote the television adaptation of her novel, Necessary Parties, for PBS.

Other screenplays include Chu-Chu and the Philly Flash, and T.G.I.F. Her first play, War in Paramus, premiered in New York in the fall of 2005 at Abingdon Theatre Company directed by Austin Pendleton.

She is an actor as well as an author, having appeared on stage, screen and television since the age of sixteen.

Awards

BARBARA DANA has received numerous awards for writing and acting including:

WRITING

Washington Irving Children's Book Choice Award, Zucchini
Maude Hart Lovelace Award, Zucchini
Land of Enchantment Children's Book Choice Award, Zucchini
American Library Association Best Book, Necessary Parties
International Monitor Award, Best Screenplay, Necessary Parties

ACTING

Tri-Media Film Festival Jury Award, Best Actor, Raising Flagg

> More information on upcoming performances and appearances