Stephen Manes
Stephen Manes (born January 8, 1949) is the author of the 2011 nonfiction book "Where Snowflakes Dance and Swear: Inside the Land of Ballet." Its subject, the workings of a ballet company, marked a significant departure for an author best known for his journalism on technology and his books for children. Manes wrote the "Digital Tools" column that appeared in every issue of "Forbes" from August 1998 until February 2007, when he announced a six-month "break" after his review of Windows Vista. He did not return. From April 1995 to December 2008, he also wrote the "Full  Disclosure" column anchoring the back page of "PC World." Manes was also co-host and co-executive editor of the public television series "PC World's Digital Duo", a program he helped create. Manes was previously the Personal Computers columnist for the Science Times section of "The New York Times" and a regular columnist for "InformationWeek." He wrote about technology since 1982 as a columnist and contributing editor for "PC Magazine", "PC/Computing", "PC Sources", "PCjr", and "Netguide." The now defunct "Marketing Computers" named him one of the four most influential writers about the computer industry and called him "a  strong critical voice." Manes is coauthor of the best-selling biography "Gates: How Microsoft's Mogul Reinvented an Industry—and Made Himself the Richest Man in America." He also wrote "The Complete MCI Mail Handbook" and programmed much of the "Starfixer" and "UnderGround WordStar" software packages. Manes is also the author of more than 30 books for children and young adults, including the "Publishers Weekly" bestseller "Make Four Million Dollars by Next Thursday!" and the award-winning "Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days!," which was adapted for the public television series "WonderWorks". His books include the cult favorites  Chicken Trek and "The Obnoxious Jerks" and have won a commendation from the National Science Foundation, International Reading Association Children's Choice awards, and kid-voted awards in five states. His writing credits also include television programs produced by ABC Television and KCET/Los Angeles and the 70s classic 20th Century-Fox movie "Mother, Jugs & Speed". Manes has served as an elected member of the National Council of the Authors Guild, the country's oldest organization of book authors. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, he lives in Seattle with his wife, Susan Kocik.