Alan Gratz
Alan Gratz was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee. After a carefree but humid childhood, he attended the University of Tennessee, where he earned a College Scholars degree with a specialization in creative writing and later a Master's degree in English education. In addition to writing plays, magazine articles and a few episodes of A & E's City Confidential, Alan has taught catapult building to middle schoolers, written more than 6,000 radio commercials and lectured at a Czech university. Alan's first novel, Samurai Shortstop, was named one of the ALA's 2007 Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults. His second novel, Something Rotten, was a 2008 ALA Quick Pick for Young Adult Readers and was followed by its sequel, Something Wicked in 2008. His first true middle grade novel, The Brooklyn Nine, debuted in March 2009, just in time for baseball season. Currently, Alan lives with his wife, Wendi and daughter, Jo in the high country of western North Carolina, where he enjoys reading, eating pizza and, perhaps not too surprisingly, watching baseball.
