Bill Brittain

William E. Brittain, born in Rochester, New York, on December 16, 1930, passed away on his birthday in 2011. He began his career as a teacher and cultivated a passion for writing, particularly mystery stories. Brittain received guidance from Frederic Dannay of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, and his mystery fiction appeared in publications like Ellery Queen's and Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine. He published serials and other stories in this genre before shifting his focus to children's literature.

His most recognized contributions are the books set in the fictional New England village of Coven Tree. Among these, "The Wish Giver" earned him a Newbery Honor. Brittain also authored "All the Money in the World," a popular book that was later adapted into a film in 1983. His literary career spanned both adult mystery fiction and acclaimed children's books.