Biographers International Organization
@biographersintl.bsky.social
Living vicariously through others since 2009.
So excited to announce the Clio Fellowship for Archival Research! Applications are due March 1st, 2026 📣 More info here: biographersinternational.org/news/new-bio...
October 24, 2025 at 5:09 PM
So excited to announce the Clio Fellowship for Archival Research! Applications are due March 1st, 2026 📣 More info here: biographersinternational.org/news/new-bio...
So excited about this upcoming event in collaboration with NYPL! 📖 Register here: www.showclix.com/event/writin...
October 17, 2025 at 12:11 AM
So excited about this upcoming event in collaboration with NYPL! 📖 Register here: www.showclix.com/event/writin...
New event! Join us 10/7 at NY Society Library to celebrate Kate Medina's Editorial Excellence Award! Sign up here: events.humanitix.com/bio-editoria...
October 4, 2025 at 12:20 AM
New event! Join us 10/7 at NY Society Library to celebrate Kate Medina's Editorial Excellence Award! Sign up here: events.humanitix.com/bio-editoria...
Winner Announced — Inaugural Kitty Kelley Dissertation Fellowship
Valerie Waterhouse has been named the recipient of the inaugural $25,000 Kitty Kelley Dissertation Fellowship for her research on Malachi Whitaker (1895–1976), a British working-class writer known for her short stories and memoir.
Valerie Waterhouse has been named the recipient of the inaugural $25,000 Kitty Kelley Dissertation Fellowship for her research on Malachi Whitaker (1895–1976), a British working-class writer known for her short stories and memoir.
July 11, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Winner Announced — Inaugural Kitty Kelley Dissertation Fellowship
Valerie Waterhouse has been named the recipient of the inaugural $25,000 Kitty Kelley Dissertation Fellowship for her research on Malachi Whitaker (1895–1976), a British working-class writer known for her short stories and memoir.
Valerie Waterhouse has been named the recipient of the inaugural $25,000 Kitty Kelley Dissertation Fellowship for her research on Malachi Whitaker (1895–1976), a British working-class writer known for her short stories and memoir.
ARCHIVIST INTERVIEW — Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
The “Hidden Archive” series continues in The Biographer’s Craft and recently Elizabeth Schott interviewed Sheridan Sayles, the archivist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York City.
#lifewriting
The “Hidden Archive” series continues in The Biographer’s Craft and recently Elizabeth Schott interviewed Sheridan Sayles, the archivist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York City.
#lifewriting
July 7, 2025 at 4:34 AM
ARCHIVIST INTERVIEW — Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
The “Hidden Archive” series continues in The Biographer’s Craft and recently Elizabeth Schott interviewed Sheridan Sayles, the archivist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York City.
#lifewriting
The “Hidden Archive” series continues in The Biographer’s Craft and recently Elizabeth Schott interviewed Sheridan Sayles, the archivist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York City.
#lifewriting
Podcast #223 – A’Lelia Bundles
JOY GODDESS: A’Lelia Walker and the Harlem Renaissance is the latest book by this award-winning journalist and author. Published by Scribner this June, it is the first major biography of Bundles’ great-grandmother.
#biography #biographer #lifewriting #writinglife
JOY GODDESS: A’Lelia Walker and the Harlem Renaissance is the latest book by this award-winning journalist and author. Published by Scribner this June, it is the first major biography of Bundles’ great-grandmother.
#biography #biographer #lifewriting #writinglife
June 30, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Podcast #223 – A’Lelia Bundles
JOY GODDESS: A’Lelia Walker and the Harlem Renaissance is the latest book by this award-winning journalist and author. Published by Scribner this June, it is the first major biography of Bundles’ great-grandmother.
#biography #biographer #lifewriting #writinglife
JOY GODDESS: A’Lelia Walker and the Harlem Renaissance is the latest book by this award-winning journalist and author. Published by Scribner this June, it is the first major biography of Bundles’ great-grandmother.
#biography #biographer #lifewriting #writinglife
FROM THE JUNE INSIDER -
Is biography the “impossible genre?” Critic Parul Sehgal of NYT Magazine thinks it is and writes about biographies in glowing, reverent terms. Let us know your thoughts in the comments after finding the full article in your inbox inside the June issue of the BIO Insider!
Is biography the “impossible genre?” Critic Parul Sehgal of NYT Magazine thinks it is and writes about biographies in glowing, reverent terms. Let us know your thoughts in the comments after finding the full article in your inbox inside the June issue of the BIO Insider!
June 28, 2025 at 6:54 PM
FROM THE JUNE INSIDER -
Is biography the “impossible genre?” Critic Parul Sehgal of NYT Magazine thinks it is and writes about biographies in glowing, reverent terms. Let us know your thoughts in the comments after finding the full article in your inbox inside the June issue of the BIO Insider!
Is biography the “impossible genre?” Critic Parul Sehgal of NYT Magazine thinks it is and writes about biographies in glowing, reverent terms. Let us know your thoughts in the comments after finding the full article in your inbox inside the June issue of the BIO Insider!
Podcast #222 – Marc Leepson
This journalist, historian, and Vietnam War veteran is the author of eleven books. His most recent book, THE UNLIKELY WAR HERO: A Vietnam War POW’s Story of Courage and Resilience in the Hanoi Hilton, was published by Stackpole Press in December 2024.
#biographer
This journalist, historian, and Vietnam War veteran is the author of eleven books. His most recent book, THE UNLIKELY WAR HERO: A Vietnam War POW’s Story of Courage and Resilience in the Hanoi Hilton, was published by Stackpole Press in December 2024.
#biographer
June 22, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Podcast #222 – Marc Leepson
This journalist, historian, and Vietnam War veteran is the author of eleven books. His most recent book, THE UNLIKELY WAR HERO: A Vietnam War POW’s Story of Courage and Resilience in the Hanoi Hilton, was published by Stackpole Press in December 2024.
#biographer
This journalist, historian, and Vietnam War veteran is the author of eleven books. His most recent book, THE UNLIKELY WAR HERO: A Vietnam War POW’s Story of Courage and Resilience in the Hanoi Hilton, was published by Stackpole Press in December 2024.
#biographer
In the May edition of The Biographer’s Craft, Michael Vinson continues his in-depth discussion of the merits and pitfalls of academic vs popular biography, elaborating on how to build a “new philosophical basis for writing bestsellers."
#biography #lifewriting
#biography #lifewriting
June 22, 2025 at 6:13 PM
In the May edition of The Biographer’s Craft, Michael Vinson continues his in-depth discussion of the merits and pitfalls of academic vs popular biography, elaborating on how to build a “new philosophical basis for writing bestsellers."
#biography #lifewriting
#biography #lifewriting
Podcast #221 – Charlotte Jacobs
90 SECONDS TO MIDNIGHT: A Hiroshima Survivor’s Nuclear Odyssey, published by Potomac Books this month, is this author’s biography of Setsuko Nakamura Thurlow—a passionate Japanese individual whose lifelong endeavors helped safeguard mankind.
#biography #lifewriting
90 SECONDS TO MIDNIGHT: A Hiroshima Survivor’s Nuclear Odyssey, published by Potomac Books this month, is this author’s biography of Setsuko Nakamura Thurlow—a passionate Japanese individual whose lifelong endeavors helped safeguard mankind.
#biography #lifewriting
June 15, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Podcast #221 – Charlotte Jacobs
90 SECONDS TO MIDNIGHT: A Hiroshima Survivor’s Nuclear Odyssey, published by Potomac Books this month, is this author’s biography of Setsuko Nakamura Thurlow—a passionate Japanese individual whose lifelong endeavors helped safeguard mankind.
#biography #lifewriting
90 SECONDS TO MIDNIGHT: A Hiroshima Survivor’s Nuclear Odyssey, published by Potomac Books this month, is this author’s biography of Setsuko Nakamura Thurlow—a passionate Japanese individual whose lifelong endeavors helped safeguard mankind.
#biography #lifewriting
On June 5-7, in Washington, D.C., BIO hosted its 15th annual BIO Conference, co-sponsored with the Leon Levy Center for Biography.
With writers participating in a wide and compelling slate of events, the conference brought the art and practice of biography to life.
#bioconference2025 #lifewriting
With writers participating in a wide and compelling slate of events, the conference brought the art and practice of biography to life.
#bioconference2025 #lifewriting
June 13, 2025 at 8:02 PM
On June 5-7, in Washington, D.C., BIO hosted its 15th annual BIO Conference, co-sponsored with the Leon Levy Center for Biography.
With writers participating in a wide and compelling slate of events, the conference brought the art and practice of biography to life.
#bioconference2025 #lifewriting
With writers participating in a wide and compelling slate of events, the conference brought the art and practice of biography to life.
#bioconference2025 #lifewriting
Podcast #220 – Prathibha Kanakamedala
BROOKLYNITES: The Remarkable Story of the Free Black Communities that Shaped a Borough is this author’s first full-length book. It was published by New York University Press in September 2024.
#biography #lifewriting #Brooklynites #BIOPodcast
BROOKLYNITES: The Remarkable Story of the Free Black Communities that Shaped a Borough is this author’s first full-length book. It was published by New York University Press in September 2024.
#biography #lifewriting #Brooklynites #BIOPodcast
June 9, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Podcast #220 – Prathibha Kanakamedala
BROOKLYNITES: The Remarkable Story of the Free Black Communities that Shaped a Borough is this author’s first full-length book. It was published by New York University Press in September 2024.
#biography #lifewriting #Brooklynites #BIOPodcast
BROOKLYNITES: The Remarkable Story of the Free Black Communities that Shaped a Borough is this author’s first full-length book. It was published by New York University Press in September 2024.
#biography #lifewriting #Brooklynites #BIOPodcast
BIO Announces Two Winners for 2025 Plutarch Award for Best Biography of 2024 --
The winners are CANDY DARLING: Dreamer, Icon, Superstar by Cynthia Carr (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) and SCAPEGOAT: The Brilliant Brief Life of the Duke of Buckingham by Lucy Hughes-Hallett (Harper).
#PlutarchAward2025
The winners are CANDY DARLING: Dreamer, Icon, Superstar by Cynthia Carr (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) and SCAPEGOAT: The Brilliant Brief Life of the Duke of Buckingham by Lucy Hughes-Hallett (Harper).
#PlutarchAward2025
June 7, 2025 at 1:31 AM
BIO Announces Two Winners for 2025 Plutarch Award for Best Biography of 2024 --
The winners are CANDY DARLING: Dreamer, Icon, Superstar by Cynthia Carr (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) and SCAPEGOAT: The Brilliant Brief Life of the Duke of Buckingham by Lucy Hughes-Hallett (Harper).
#PlutarchAward2025
The winners are CANDY DARLING: Dreamer, Icon, Superstar by Cynthia Carr (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) and SCAPEGOAT: The Brilliant Brief Life of the Duke of Buckingham by Lucy Hughes-Hallett (Harper).
#PlutarchAward2025
CONFERENCE PREVIEW — Liz Schott Reflects on Her First BIO Conference
With the 2025 annual BIO Conference only a day away, Liz Schott reflects on her first experience in 2024, providing newcomers with plenty of material about what to expect. Read the full story in your inbox!
#BIOConference2025
With the 2025 annual BIO Conference only a day away, Liz Schott reflects on her first experience in 2024, providing newcomers with plenty of material about what to expect. Read the full story in your inbox!
#BIOConference2025
June 5, 2025 at 4:12 AM
CONFERENCE PREVIEW — Liz Schott Reflects on Her First BIO Conference
With the 2025 annual BIO Conference only a day away, Liz Schott reflects on her first experience in 2024, providing newcomers with plenty of material about what to expect. Read the full story in your inbox!
#BIOConference2025
With the 2025 annual BIO Conference only a day away, Liz Schott reflects on her first experience in 2024, providing newcomers with plenty of material about what to expect. Read the full story in your inbox!
#BIOConference2025
Podcast #219 – Alex Beam
In Alex Beam's WALLACE STEGNER: Dean of Western Writers, published by Signature Books in February 2025, this longtime Boston Globe columnist and author takes readers on a brisk and riveting journey through Stegner’s life and complicated legacy.
#biographer #lifewriting
In Alex Beam's WALLACE STEGNER: Dean of Western Writers, published by Signature Books in February 2025, this longtime Boston Globe columnist and author takes readers on a brisk and riveting journey through Stegner’s life and complicated legacy.
#biographer #lifewriting
June 3, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Podcast #219 – Alex Beam
In Alex Beam's WALLACE STEGNER: Dean of Western Writers, published by Signature Books in February 2025, this longtime Boston Globe columnist and author takes readers on a brisk and riveting journey through Stegner’s life and complicated legacy.
#biographer #lifewriting
In Alex Beam's WALLACE STEGNER: Dean of Western Writers, published by Signature Books in February 2025, this longtime Boston Globe columnist and author takes readers on a brisk and riveting journey through Stegner’s life and complicated legacy.
#biographer #lifewriting
The 2025 Annual BIO Conference Is One Week Away — Registration Still Open!
The clock is ticking for registration to the 2025 BIO Conference! Join more than 125 biographers at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, June 5, and Friday, June 6.
#BIOConference2025 #biography
The clock is ticking for registration to the 2025 BIO Conference! Join more than 125 biographers at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, June 5, and Friday, June 6.
#BIOConference2025 #biography
May 30, 2025 at 1:36 AM
The 2025 Annual BIO Conference Is One Week Away — Registration Still Open!
The clock is ticking for registration to the 2025 BIO Conference! Join more than 125 biographers at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, June 5, and Friday, June 6.
#BIOConference2025 #biography
The clock is ticking for registration to the 2025 BIO Conference! Join more than 125 biographers at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, June 5, and Friday, June 6.
#BIOConference2025 #biography
Podcast #218 – Adam Plunkett
LOVE AND NEED: The Life of Robert Frost’s Poetry is literary critic Adam Plunkett’s first biography. His exploration of the life *& creativity of one of USA's favorite 20th-century poets was published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in February 2025.
#biography
LOVE AND NEED: The Life of Robert Frost’s Poetry is literary critic Adam Plunkett’s first biography. His exploration of the life *& creativity of one of USA's favorite 20th-century poets was published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in February 2025.
#biography
May 30, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Podcast #218 – Adam Plunkett
LOVE AND NEED: The Life of Robert Frost’s Poetry is literary critic Adam Plunkett’s first biography. His exploration of the life *& creativity of one of USA's favorite 20th-century poets was published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in February 2025.
#biography
LOVE AND NEED: The Life of Robert Frost’s Poetry is literary critic Adam Plunkett’s first biography. His exploration of the life *& creativity of one of USA's favorite 20th-century poets was published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in February 2025.
#biography
2025 Pulitzer Prize in Biography Awarded -- Two BIO Members are Finalists
The two BIO member finalists in the Biography category for the 2025 Pulitzer Prize were David Greenberg, for JOHN LEWIS: A Life and Amy Reading, for THE WORLD SHE EDITED: Katherine S. White at The New Yorker.
The two BIO member finalists in the Biography category for the 2025 Pulitzer Prize were David Greenberg, for JOHN LEWIS: A Life and Amy Reading, for THE WORLD SHE EDITED: Katherine S. White at The New Yorker.
May 24, 2025 at 4:18 PM
2025 Pulitzer Prize in Biography Awarded -- Two BIO Members are Finalists
The two BIO member finalists in the Biography category for the 2025 Pulitzer Prize were David Greenberg, for JOHN LEWIS: A Life and Amy Reading, for THE WORLD SHE EDITED: Katherine S. White at The New Yorker.
The two BIO member finalists in the Biography category for the 2025 Pulitzer Prize were David Greenberg, for JOHN LEWIS: A Life and Amy Reading, for THE WORLD SHE EDITED: Katherine S. White at The New Yorker.
Podcast #217 – David Levering Lewis
In this special episode, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and National Humanities Medal recipient David Levering Lewis discusses his latest book — an exploration of his own family history: THE STAINED GLASS WINDOW: A Family History as the American Story: 1790-1958.
In this special episode, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and National Humanities Medal recipient David Levering Lewis discusses his latest book — an exploration of his own family history: THE STAINED GLASS WINDOW: A Family History as the American Story: 1790-1958.
May 17, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Podcast #217 – David Levering Lewis
In this special episode, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and National Humanities Medal recipient David Levering Lewis discusses his latest book — an exploration of his own family history: THE STAINED GLASS WINDOW: A Family History as the American Story: 1790-1958.
In this special episode, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and National Humanities Medal recipient David Levering Lewis discusses his latest book — an exploration of his own family history: THE STAINED GLASS WINDOW: A Family History as the American Story: 1790-1958.
CRAFT TALK — with Michael Vinson
In The Biographer’s Craft, BIO member Michael Vinson discusses at length the merits and pitfalls of academic vs popular biography, in a brilliant exploration of how to build a “new philosophical basis for writing bestsellers.”
#biography #lifewriting #CraftTalk
In The Biographer’s Craft, BIO member Michael Vinson discusses at length the merits and pitfalls of academic vs popular biography, in a brilliant exploration of how to build a “new philosophical basis for writing bestsellers.”
#biography #lifewriting #CraftTalk
May 16, 2025 at 4:42 PM
CRAFT TALK — with Michael Vinson
In The Biographer’s Craft, BIO member Michael Vinson discusses at length the merits and pitfalls of academic vs popular biography, in a brilliant exploration of how to build a “new philosophical basis for writing bestsellers.”
#biography #lifewriting #CraftTalk
In The Biographer’s Craft, BIO member Michael Vinson discusses at length the merits and pitfalls of academic vs popular biography, in a brilliant exploration of how to build a “new philosophical basis for writing bestsellers.”
#biography #lifewriting #CraftTalk
Podcast #216 – Janice Engel
This award-winning filmmaker, showrunner and Academy of Art University professor, talks about her documentary film, RAISE HELL: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins.
Engel was interviewed by BIO member and podcast producer Jenny Skoog.
#biography #lifewriting
This award-winning filmmaker, showrunner and Academy of Art University professor, talks about her documentary film, RAISE HELL: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins.
Engel was interviewed by BIO member and podcast producer Jenny Skoog.
#biography #lifewriting
May 12, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Podcast #216 – Janice Engel
This award-winning filmmaker, showrunner and Academy of Art University professor, talks about her documentary film, RAISE HELL: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins.
Engel was interviewed by BIO member and podcast producer Jenny Skoog.
#biography #lifewriting
This award-winning filmmaker, showrunner and Academy of Art University professor, talks about her documentary film, RAISE HELL: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins.
Engel was interviewed by BIO member and podcast producer Jenny Skoog.
#biography #lifewriting
BIO MEMBER INTERVIEW — with Megan Elias
The Six Questions series in The Biographer’s Craft continues, with historian Megan Elias discussing her most beloved writers, her current project, and her highlights and frustrations in the world of biography.
#biography #biographer #lifewriting #writinglife
The Six Questions series in The Biographer’s Craft continues, with historian Megan Elias discussing her most beloved writers, her current project, and her highlights and frustrations in the world of biography.
#biography #biographer #lifewriting #writinglife
May 11, 2025 at 4:35 PM
BIO MEMBER INTERVIEW — with Megan Elias
The Six Questions series in The Biographer’s Craft continues, with historian Megan Elias discussing her most beloved writers, her current project, and her highlights and frustrations in the world of biography.
#biography #biographer #lifewriting #writinglife
The Six Questions series in The Biographer’s Craft continues, with historian Megan Elias discussing her most beloved writers, her current project, and her highlights and frustrations in the world of biography.
#biography #biographer #lifewriting #writinglife
Podcast #215 – Caitlin Cass & Lisa Napoli
These authors talk about various forms of biography. Napoli wrote a group biography of NPR's founding mothers. Cass’s book, SUFFRAGE SONG: The Haunted History of Gender, Race, and Voting Rights in the US, was named a Best Art Book of 2024 by Hyperallergic.
These authors talk about various forms of biography. Napoli wrote a group biography of NPR's founding mothers. Cass’s book, SUFFRAGE SONG: The Haunted History of Gender, Race, and Voting Rights in the US, was named a Best Art Book of 2024 by Hyperallergic.
May 3, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Podcast #215 – Caitlin Cass & Lisa Napoli
These authors talk about various forms of biography. Napoli wrote a group biography of NPR's founding mothers. Cass’s book, SUFFRAGE SONG: The Haunted History of Gender, Race, and Voting Rights in the US, was named a Best Art Book of 2024 by Hyperallergic.
These authors talk about various forms of biography. Napoli wrote a group biography of NPR's founding mothers. Cass’s book, SUFFRAGE SONG: The Haunted History of Gender, Race, and Voting Rights in the US, was named a Best Art Book of 2024 by Hyperallergic.
2025 PLUTARCH AWARD SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED
A distinguished panel of judges from the Biographers International Organization (BIO) is proud to announce the five books shortlisted for the 2025 Plutarch Award, the only international literary award for biography judged exclusively by biographers.
A distinguished panel of judges from the Biographers International Organization (BIO) is proud to announce the five books shortlisted for the 2025 Plutarch Award, the only international literary award for biography judged exclusively by biographers.
May 3, 2025 at 4:53 PM
2025 PLUTARCH AWARD SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED
A distinguished panel of judges from the Biographers International Organization (BIO) is proud to announce the five books shortlisted for the 2025 Plutarch Award, the only international literary award for biography judged exclusively by biographers.
A distinguished panel of judges from the Biographers International Organization (BIO) is proud to announce the five books shortlisted for the 2025 Plutarch Award, the only international literary award for biography judged exclusively by biographers.
Podcast #214 – Steve Paul
As the president of the Biographers International Organization, Steve Paul talks about the organization’s exciting new initiatives in 2025 and beyond. Paul spent more than 40 years in daily journalism; now, as an independent scholar, he is devoted to literary biography.
As the president of the Biographers International Organization, Steve Paul talks about the organization’s exciting new initiatives in 2025 and beyond. Paul spent more than 40 years in daily journalism; now, as an independent scholar, he is devoted to literary biography.
May 3, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Podcast #214 – Steve Paul
As the president of the Biographers International Organization, Steve Paul talks about the organization’s exciting new initiatives in 2025 and beyond. Paul spent more than 40 years in daily journalism; now, as an independent scholar, he is devoted to literary biography.
As the president of the Biographers International Organization, Steve Paul talks about the organization’s exciting new initiatives in 2025 and beyond. Paul spent more than 40 years in daily journalism; now, as an independent scholar, he is devoted to literary biography.