T. A. Barron
Thomas Archibald Barron (born March 26, 1952) is an American writer of fantasy literature, books for children and young adults, and nature books. Biography. Barron spent his early childhood in Harvard, Massachusetts, a town full apple orchards and lots of New England history. His family moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado and he spent much of his youth on a ranch in the Rocky Mountains. Barron's writing reflects his great passion for nature and the spiritual values of the natural world, as well as his belief in the power of every person. He studied politics at Princeton  University, where he was a Trustee, and graduated in 1974 before he attended Balliol College at Oxford University on a Rhodes scholarship, and has business and law degrees from Harvard University. After finishing his education, he spent a year hiking in places around Asia and Africa. He served as president of a private equity firm in New York City before changing careers in 1990, when he returned to Colorado with his wife, Currie, and their five children to become a full-time writer and conservationist. Since then, he has written more than thirty novels, children's books, non-fiction books , and nature books. In 2011, he received The de Grummond Medallion for "lifetime contribution to the field of children's and young adult literature." He has also won the Nautilus Award Grand Prize, and many other literary awards. He is actively involved with environmental and conservation organizations, including the Wilderness Society, Earthjustice, World Wildlife Fund, Wildlife Conservation Society, the Alaska Conservation Foundation, and Colorado Open Lands. In 2000, he founded a national prize to celebrate outstanding young people, who help other people, or the environment—the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes (named after his mother). He has produced a  documentary film, “Dream Big”, as well as several highly acclaimed videos that honor extraordinary young people of diverse backgrounds for his Inspiring Young Heroes website. He won a Telly Award in 2020 for excellence in video production in the Social Impact category. At Princeton University Barron created the Barron Family Fund for Innovations in Environmental Studies which assists faculty and students involved in the environment and humanities. Another creation of his is the T.A. Barron Price for Environmental Leadership that is given to students that demonstrate they have taken the initiative in an environmental issue. Barron also helped to create  the High Meadows Environmental Institute at Princeton University. He and his wife also created The Thomas A. and Currie C. Barron Family Biodiversity Research Challenge Fund which helps with research that protects different species and ecosystems. Recently, the Wilderness Society honored him with the Robert Marshall Award, its highest award given to citizens active in conservation. Writer. In many of his novels, Barron writes about nature and ecology in mythical settings. Inspired by nature's power of renewal as well as humanity's power of free choice, he says, "I truly believe every person can make a difference — that's  why I'm drawn to heroic quest stories." . His books have received the Nautilus Award Grand Prize for literature that helps to renew the spirit and envision a better world, as well as many other awards from the American Library Association, and the International Literacy Association. "The Merlin Saga" (13 titles) and the novel "The Ancient One" have been international best sellers; "The Great Tree of Avalon" trilogy has been a New York Times best seller. According to "Booklist", his books are "completely magical" and "will enchant readers." The "New York Times" has called his work "august" and "compelling". Fellow  author Isabel Allende has said his writing is "brilliant—a real gift"; similarly, author Madeleine L'Engle called his stories "a crescendo of miracles." Fellow writer Terry Tempest Williams has hailed him as the creator of "environmental fables for our time." Robert Coles, M.D. has praised his work by saying, "Here is so much grace." And writer Lloyd Alexander called his books "an intense and profoundly spiritual adventure." Adaptations. Disney film studios is currently developing a film adaptation of "The Merlin Saga". In November 2015, Philippa Boyens was hired to write the script. On January 4, 2018, it was reported that  Ridley Scott was in talks about directing it. On October 15, 2021, it was announced that Michael Matthews will direct it. As of October 28, 2021, Gil Netter was set as the movie's producer. Works. The Merlin Saga. "The Merlin Saga" (2011) is a 12-book series originally sold as three separate series: "The Lost Years of Merlin" epic, "Merlin's Dragon" trilogy, and "The Great Tree of Avalon" trilogy. It also includes the prequel, "GIANT" (2021). The final book in the series is "The Book of Magic", an encyclopedia of the characters and places in the series. T.