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Today's Featured Biography

Ann Hagedorn

I must confess to being a reunion crasher, as I did not graduate from OHS! I left Oakwood in the summer of '63 and graduated from Shaker Heights HS in Ohio in '67. However, I am indebted to Oakwood for what I learned during my years there -- especially regarding grammar and writing -- and my bond has only deepened with time, especially because I recently married the boy I met at my locker at Oakwood in the 7th grade!
For all of us now, to write a bio, is quite a challenge and like any piece of writing, it requires selecting in and selecting out. So, I will be as succinct as possible.
After high school, I earned a B.A. in history from Denison University; a masters degree in library science from the University of Michigan; and then a masters degree in journalism from Columbia University. I also have an honorary doctorate from Denison. I am now a professional writer focusing on narrative nonfiction books, and just began my sixth one with Simon and Schuster Publishing in NY.
I began my professional life as a research librarian on the library faculty at the University of Kansas. The writing that developed during that job -- and perhaps curating KU's collection of the works of H.L. Mencken -- led me to my current career as a writer: first at New York University as a speech writer, then after earning the Columbia degree, moving on to journalistic writing at newspapers. I first worked at the San Jose Mercury News covering cops and courts in SF's East Bay towns. Then I became a staff writer at The Wall Street Journal in the NYC bureau for seven years, writing mostly about white collar crime. Next I took a post as special projects editor running investigations at the New York Daily News. After my first book, Wild Ride, I decided to focus only on writing books and on trying to perfect ways to teach narrative writing, which I do, between books, at universities and at writing workshops.
I lived in NYC, in Manhattan, for more than 20 years and now I live in a small town on the Ohio River, which I discovered while doing research for my third book. I also spend three months out of the year in Frisco, Colorado.
I was married during the NY years to a screenwriter, with whom I am now good friends. And I recently remarried: this time to my very first boyfriend, at Oakwood. We reconnected because of a booksigning during the tour for my most recent book and because of the generosity of one of his best friends from the Oakwood years.
My sports are fly fishing and biking. I play the violin and for the homestretch years, as I call the years ahead, I am trying to learn fiddle music.
Besides working on the new book, I'm also working on a film adaptation for one of my books and an adaptation for another that will hopefully develop soon into an 8-episode TV series -- a limited series, they call it.
And I'm doing lots of mentoring and trying to live by what I call the Maya Angelou philosophy of life: when you get, give; when you learn, teach.
What else: Because I don't have children I am now learning how to be a stepmother, a process that is hugely increasing my respect for parents! I have a lot to learn!
Recently I was asked what traits I consider the most important and I said, compassion and a sense of humor. So when I think of my years growing up in Oakwood (until the 9th grade), I think that perhaps we all had those crucial traits and that is what bonded us then and now.
See you soon!
Best,
Ann

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