# List of Michigan writers

Following is a list of Michigan writers, who are noteworthy either by having been born in Michigan or by living there during their writing career.

## Children's books

* Verna Aardema, author of ethnic-themed works (Ashanti, Zanzibari, Akamba and Ayutla Mexican sources), winner of Caldecott Medal (born in New Era)
* Chris Van Allsburg, author of The Polar Express, twice winner of Caldecott Medal (born in East Grand Rapids)
* Marguerite de Angeli, writer and illustrator, won 1950 Newbery Award, one of first inductees of Michigan Women's Hall in of Fame (born in Lapeer)
* K. A. Applegate, children's and young adult author (born in Ann Arbor)
* Mark Crilley, manga creator, children's book author/illustrator; creator of Miki Falls, Akiko, Brody's Ghost, and POP! Goes the Weasel (born in Detroit)
* Christopher Paul Curtis, author, won Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King award (born in Flint)
* Meindert DeJong, received 1962 Hans Christian Andersen Award, awarded Newbery Medal and National Book Award (resided in Grand Rapids, attended Calvin College)
* Aileen Fisher (1906–2002), author (born in Iron River)
* Margaret Hillert, poet and author of children's literature (born in Saginaw, taught in Royal Oak School District)
* Laurie Keller, writer and illustrator (born in Muskegon)
* Patricia Polacco, author (Union City)
* Robert Sabuda, pop-up book artist and paper engineer (born in Pinckney)
* Gary Schmidt, author of children's literature and young adult fiction (college professor in Grand Rapids)
* Jon Scieszka, author (born in Flint)
* Devin Scillian, author (broadcaster in Detroit)
* Philip C. Stead, author (born in Farmington Hills)
* Gloria Whelan, author born in Detroit, winner of National Book Award for Young People's Literature for 2000
* Christopher Wright, author of American Chillers and Michigan Chillers (born in Pontiac, Michigan)

## Fiction

* Nelson Algren, novelist (born in Detroit)
* John Edward Ames, western writer (born in Monroe County)
* Harriette Simpson Arnow, novelist (resided in Ann Arbor)
* Robert Asprin, science-fiction and fantasy writer (born in St. Johns)
* Mathis Bailey, novelist and fiction writer
* Deb Baker, author (born in Escanaba)
* Emma Pow Bauder, novelist (born in North Adams)
* Rex Beach, novelist (born in Atwood)
* John Bellairs, mystery novelist (born in Marshall)
* Mary K. Buck, author (lived and died in Traverse City)
* Bonnie Jo Campbell, author (born in Kalamazoo)
* Jaqueline Carey, fantasy author (resides in Michigan)
* Mary A. Cornelius (1829–1918), author, social reformer (born in Pontiac)
* Katherine Cowley, taught at Western Michigan University
* James Oliver Curwood, novelist and conservationist (born in Owosso)
* Loren D. Estleman, crime fiction author (born in Ann Arbor; graduate of Eastern Michigan University)
* Jeffrey Eugenides, novelist (born in Detroit)
* Edna Ferber, novelist (born in Kalamazoo)
* Alice Fulton, short-story writer (born in Troy, New York; moved to Ypsilanti)
* J. Gabriel Gates, young adult and science-fiction writer (raised in Michigan)
* Donald Goines, novelist (born in Detroit)
* Jaimy Gordon, novelist (born in Baltimore, taught at Western Michigan University, lives in Kalamazoo)
* Charlotte E. Gray, novelist and religious writer (born in Reading)
* Judith Guest, novelist and screenwriter (born in Detroit)
* Aaron Hamburger, short-story writer and novelist (born in Detroit)
* Steve Hamilton, mystery and thriller novelist (born in Detroit)
* Jim Harrison, novelist, poet, screenwriter (born in Grayling, attended Michigan State University)
* Jim C. Hines, fantasy novelist and short-story writer (attended Michigan State and Eastern Michigan)
* Joan Carol Holly, science fiction novelist, graduate of Michigan State University
* James Hynes, author (born in Okemos)
* Alex Irvine, novelist and short-story writer (born in Ann Arbor, raised in Ypsilanti)
* Jerry B. Jenkins, novelist, author of Left Behind series (born in Kalamazoo)
* Janet Kauffman, novelist (born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania; moved to Hudson)
* Clarence Budington Kelland, short-story writer and novelist (born in Portland)
* William X. Kienzle, Catholic priest, mystery author (born in Detroit, resided in Grand Rapids)
* Brad Leithauser, poet, novelist, essayist (born in Detroit)
* Elmore Leonard, novelist and screenwriter (raised in Detroit, resided in Bloomfield Hills)
* Thomas Ligotti, reclusive writer of fiction and poetry (born and raised in Detroit)
* R.J. Lloyd, fiction author known for urban fantasy, paranormal thrillers (born and resides in Michigan)
* Josh Malerman, horror and fiction novelist (born in Southfield)
* Thomas McGuane, novelist and screenwriter (born in Wyandotte)
* Terry McMillan, author (born in Port Huron)
* Ander Monson, poet, essayist, novelist (born in Houghton)
* Colleen Nye, novelist, biographer and cookbook author (Born in Lansing, resides in the Detroit area)
* Joyce Carol Oates, novelist, winner of National Book Award (born in Lockport, New York, lived in metro Detroit and Windsor, Ontario)
* Steven Piziks, Sci-Fi author (born in Saginaw, Michigan)
* Alice Randall, author (born in Detroit)
* Lev Raphael, crime fiction author and author across genres (born in New York City)
* Marcus Sakey, crime novelist (born in Flint)
* K.J. Stevens, novelist and short-story writer (born in Alpena)
* Glendon Swarthout, novelist and short-story writer, winner of the O. Henry Prize (born in Pinckney)
* Lee Upton, novelist and short-story writer (born in St Johns)
* John D. Voelker, novelist who wrote Anatomy of a Murder under pen name Robert Traver (born in Ishpeming)
* Maritta Wolff, novelist (born in Grass Lake)
* Michael Zadoorian, novelist and short-story writer (born in Detroit)

## Journalists and nonfiction

* Bruce Ableson, inventor of Open Diary (born in West Bloomfield)
* Mitch Albom, author, sportswriter, radio talk show host (born in Trenton, New Jersey; lives in metro Detroit)
* Ruth Alice Armstrong, non-fiction writer (born in Cassopolis)
* Ella H. Brockway Avann, religious writer (born in Newaygo)
* Catharine H. T. Avery, editor of The American Monthly, the official organ of the Daughters of the American Revolution (born in Dundee)
* Lepha Eliza Bailey, non-fiction writer (born in Battle Creek)
* Joel Bakan, legal writer and Canadian lawyer (born in Lansing)
* Ray Stannard Baker, 19th-century muckraking journalist (born in Lansing)
* Michael Barone, journalist, pundit, editor (born in Highland Park)
* M. E. C. Bates, writer, journalist, and newspaper editor
* Octavia Williams Bates, suffragist, clubwoman, writer (born in Detroit)
* Jim Bellows, newspaper editor in Washington, New York and Los Angeles (born in Detroit)
* Emma E. Bower, newspaper owner, publisher, and editor; physician (born and died in Ann Arbor)
* Robert K. Brown, war correspondent, founder of Soldier of Fortune magazine (born in Monroe)
* Martha A. Boughton, biographer, poet, songwriter (born in Corunna)
* Gene Caesar, writer of outdoor fiction (born in Saginaw, Michigan)
* Amanda Carpenter, author, former correspondent (born in Montrose)
* E. Jean Carroll, magazine writer and advice columnist (born in Detroit)
* Jill Carroll, journalist, Iraqi terrorists' kidnap victim (born in Ann Arbor)
* Nora Carter, non-fiction and writer help books (born and resides in Michigan)
* Bruce Catton, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian (born in Petoskey)
* Zev Chafets, journalist and columnist (born in Pontiac)
* Jonathan Chait, senior editor and columnist (grew up in metro Detroit)
* David Chardavoyne, legal writer (born in Ohio, moved to metro Detroit)
* Lydia J. Newcomb Comings, non-fiction writer (born in Spring Lake)
* Arthur Danto, art critic for The Nation (born in Ann Arbor)
* Paul de Kruif, science writer and microbiologist (born in Zeeland)
* Rachael Denhollander, author, lawyer, advocate (born in Kalamazoo)
* James Deren, literary nonfiction writer (born in Detroit (resides in White Lake)
* Joe Falls, sportswriter for Detroit newspapers 1956–2004 (born in New York, moved to Detroit)
* M. F. K. Fisher, food writer (born in Albion)
* Terry Foster, sportswriter and radio personality (born in Detroit)
* Ron Fournier, national political journalist (born in Detroit)
* Jennifer Eaton Gökmen, literary nonfiction writer (born in Wayne, raised in West Bloomfield, in 1994 moved to Istanbul, Turkey)
* Lou Gordon, radio and TV commentator, talk show host, columnist, political reporter (born and based in Detroit)
* Jerry Green, sportswriter for Detroit newspapers 1963–2004
* John Grogan, columnist and author (born in Detroit)
* Ben Hamper, journalist and non-fiction writer (born in Flint)
* Jemele Hill, sports commentator and columnist for ESPN (born in Detroit)
* Loraine Immen, non-fiction writer (born in Mount Clemens
* Martha Waldron Janes, minister, reformer, columnist (born in Northfield Township; died in Muskegon)
* Michael Kinsley, editor, columnist (born in Detroit)
* Charlie LeDuff, journalist, author (born in Virginia, grew up in Westland)
* Karl Ludvigsen, editor of Car and Driver, Motor Trend (born in [Kalamazoo)
* Betty Mahmoody, author (born in Alma, Michigan)
* Lucy A. Mallory, magazine publisher, editor (born in Michigan)
* William McPherson, author and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist (born in Sault Ste. Marie)
* John J. Miller, national political reporter (born in Detroit)
* Elvis Mitchell, film critic (born in Detroit)
* Michael Moore, documentary filmmaker and nonfiction writer (born in Flint)
* Jay Nordlinger, senior editor (born in Ann Arbor)
* Isabel Paterson, author, co-founder of libertarianism (born on Manitoulin Island, Canada; grew up on a rural Upper Peninsula ranch)
* Pauline Periwinkle, journalist, columnist, poet (born in Battle Creek)
* Neal Rubin, columnist, writer of comic strip Gil Thorp (born in California, lives in Farmington Hills)
* Tom Stanton, author of the New York Times bestseller "Terror in the City of Champions" and other non-fiction books (born in Warren)
* Joseph Sobran, paleo-conservative syndicated columnist (raised in Ypsilanti)
* Jennie O. Starkey, first woman in Detroit to adopt journalism as a profession (born and died in Detroit)
* Louise Reed Stowell, scientist, non-fiction writer (born in Grand Blanc)
* Helen Thomas, journalist, White House correspondent (born in Winchester, Kentucky; moved to Detroit)
* Heather Ann Thompson, winner of 2017 Pulitzer Prize for History (born in Detroit)
* Paul Vachon, freelance journalist and local historian (born in Detroit in 1959)
* Bob Wojnowski, sports columnist and radio personality (born in Buffalo, New York, lives in metro Detroit)

## Playwrights and screenwriters

* Ron Allen, playwright (born in Detroit)
* Mike Binder, actor, director, screenwriter (born in Detroit, raised in Birmingham)
* Bruce Campbell, actor and autobiographer (born in Royal Oak)
* Jim Cash, screenwriter(born in Boyne City, lived in Grand Rapids)
* Francis Ford Coppola, screenwriter, director (born in Detroit)
* Pete Dexter, novelist, screenwriter (born in Pontiac)
* Gerald Di Pego, screenwriter (born in Flint)
* Jack Epps, Jr., screenwriter (attended Michigan State)
* Jim Harrison, novelist, screenwriter (attended Michigan State)
* Alice Emma Ives, dramatist, journalist (born in Detroit)
* Jake Kasdan, screenwriter, director (born in Detroit)
* Lawrence Kasdan, screenwriter, director (attended University of Michigan)
* Neil LaBute, playwright, director, screenwriter (born in Detroit)
* Elmore Leonard, novelist, screenwriter (lived in Bloomfield Hills)
* Thomas McGuane, novelist, screenwriter (attended Michigan State)
* Arthur Miller, playwright (attended University of Michigan)
* Ron Milner, playwright (born in Detroit)
* Jane Murfin, playwright, screenwriter (born in Quincy)
* Heather Raffo, playwright, actress (raised in Michigan)
* Ivan Raimi, screenwriter (born in Royal Oak)
* Sam Raimi, screenwriter, director, producer (born in Royal Oak)
* Terry Rossio, screenwriter, producer (born in Kalamazoo)
* Leonard Schrader, screenwriter (born in Grand Rapids)
* Paul Schrader, screenwriter, director (born in Grand Rapids)
* Sandra Seaton, playwright, librettist (lives in Michigan)
* Donald E. Stewart, screenwriter (born in Detroit)

## Poets

* Clara Doty Bates, poet, children's writer (born in Ann Arbor)
* John Malcolm Brinnin, poet (born in Halifax Nova Scotia; raised in Detroit)
* Eudora Bumstead, poet, hymnwriter (born in Bedford Charter Township)
* Jim Daniels, poet (born in Detroit)
* Toi Derricotte, poet (born in Hamtramck)
* Dorothy Donnelly, poet and prose writer (born in Detroit, raised in Grosse Pointe Park, resided in Ann Arbor)
* Myra Douglas, poet, short story writer (born in Adrian)
* Stuart Dybek, poet (born in Chicago; lives in Kalamazoo)
* Max Ellison, poet (lived in Bellaire)
* Clayton Eshleman, poet (born in Indianapolis, moved to Ypsilanti)
* Carolyn Forché, poet (born in Detroit)
* Robert Frost, poet (born in San Francisco, resided and taught in Ann Arbor)
* Alice Fulton, MacArthur "Genius Award" poet (born in Troy, New York; moved to Ypsilanti)
* Edgar Guest, poet (born in Birmingham, England; moved to Detroit)
* Jim Harrison, poet and novelist (born in Grayling)
* Robert Hayden, poet (born in Detroit; moved to Ann Arbor)
* Bob Hicok, poet (born in Grand Ledge)
* Conrad Hilberry, poet (born in Ferndale; moved to Kalamazoo)
* Lawrence Joseph, poet (born in Detroit)
* Ruth Ward Kahn, poet, non-fiction writer (born in Jackson, Michigan; attended University of Michigan)
* Jane Kenyon, poet (born in Ann Arbor)
* Mary Torrans Lathrap, poet (born and died in Jackson)
* Margaret Wynne Lawless, poet, non-fiction writer (born in Adrian)
* Philip Levine, poet (born in Detroit)
* Thomas Lynch, poet (born in Detroit)
* Naomi Long Madgett, poet (born in Norfolk, Virginia, raised in East Orange, New Jersey, moved to Detroit and Ypsilanti)
* Douglas Malloch, poet (born in Muskegon), known as the Lumberman's Poet
* Angel Nafis, poet, graduated from Huron High School
* John Frederick Nims, poet (born in Muskegon)
* Marge Piercy, poet and novelist (born in Detroit)
* Dudley Randall, poet, Broadside Press founder (born in Detroit)
* Theodore Roethke, Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning poet (born in Saginaw)
* Carol Smallwood, poet (born in Cheboygan)
* Richard Tillinghast, poet (born in Memphis, resides in Ann Arbor)
* Mary Frances Tucker, poet (born in York Township)
* Nancy Willard, poet, novelist, children's writer and literary critic (born in Ann Arbor)

## Others

* Wayne Dyer, self-help book writer (born in Detroit)
* James Finn Garner, humorist (born in Dearborn)
* Jerry B. Jenkins, religious writer, "as told to" biographer, romance writer (born in Kalamazoo)
* Ring Lardner, Sr., satirist, short story writer and sports columnist (born in Niles)
* Robert McKee, well-known creative writing instructor (born in Detroit)
* Peter McWilliams, writer and cannabis legalization advocate (born in Detroit)
* Stewart Edward White, writer (born in Grand Rapids)