Judith Guest (born March 29, 1936) is an American novelist and

screenwriter A screenplay writer (also called screenwriter, scriptwriter, scribe or scenarist) is a writer who practices the craft of screenwriting, writing screenplays on which mass media, such as films, television programs and video games, are based. ...

. She was born in Detroit, Michigan and is the great-niece of Poet Laureate Edgar Guest (1881–1959).Biography of Judith Guest (self-written)
She is a recipient of the

Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize The Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize is a literary award A literary award or literary prize is an award presented in recognition of a particularly lauded literary piece or body of work. It is normally presented to an author. Organizations Most liter ...

Early life

Guest attended Detroit's Mumford High School in 1951. When her family moved to Royal Oak, she transferred to Royal Oak High School; she graduated in 1954. Guest then studied English and psychology at the University of Michigan. She was also a member of Sigma Kappa sorority. Guest graduated with a BA in education.

Career

Guest taught at a public school for several years before deciding to work full-time completing a novel. Guest's first book, '' Ordinary People'', published in

1976 Events January * January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 11 – The 1976 Phila ...

, was the basis of the

1980 film __NOTOC__ Year 198 (CXCVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Sergius and Gallus (or, less frequently, year 951 ''Ab u ...

'' Ordinary People'' that won the

Academy Award for Best Picture The Academy Award for Best Picture is one of the Academy Awards presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) since the awards debuted in 1929. This award goes to the producers of the film and is the only category ...

. This novel and two others, ''

Second Heaven ''Second Heaven'' is a novel written by Judith Guest Judith Guest (born March 29, 1936) is an American novelist and screenwriter. She was born in Detroit, Michigan and is the great-niece of Poet Laureate Edgar Guest (1881–1959).

'' (1982) and ''Errands'' (1997), are about adolescents forced to deal with crises in their families. Guest also wrote the screenplay for the 1987 film '' Rachel River''. Guest co-authored the mystery ''

Killing Time in St. Cloud ''Killing Time in St. Cloud'' is a crime novel by Judith Guest and Rebecca Hill published in 1988. Synopsis After returning to St. Cloud a man becomes involved in a complicated web of lies, feuds, and secrets that leads to murder. Development J ...

'' (1988) with novelist Rebecca Hill. Guest's most recent book, '' The Tarnished Eye'' (2004), is loosely based on a real unsolved crime in her native Michigan.

Personal life

Guest was married for nearly 50 years to her college sweetheart, businessman Larry LaVercombe (1936-2009). Guest, her three sons, and their families, reside in Edina, Minnesota.

Bibliography

*'' Ordinary People'' (1976) *''

'' (1982) *''

'' (with Rebecca Hill) (1988) *''The Mythic Family'' (essay) (1988) *''Errands'' (1997) *'' The Tarnished Eye'' (2004)

References

External links

Official website2004 Judith Guest interview
secretsofthecity.com *
Judith Guest is interviewed by Sharon Charles of Hennepin County Library
Northern Lights Minnesota Author Interview TV Series #32 (1988) {{DEFAULTSORT:Guest, Judith 1936 births Writers from Detroit 20th-century American novelists 21st-century American novelists American women novelists Living people Novelists from Michigan Novelists from Minnesota University of Michigan School of Education alumni American women screenwriters 20th-century American women writers 21st-century American women writers Screenwriters from Michigan Screenwriters from Minnesota Mumford High School alumni