» McCourt’s disciple; best-selling author
As a high school student at Stuyvesant in New York City in the early ’80s, Susan Jane Gilman (above , left) had the fortune of studying English and creative writing with Mr. McCourt of Room 205. And like thousands of students, before and after her, Mr. McCourt would become a mentor and influence, more so for her who has become a best-selling author in her own right. That venerable high school teacher is of course the Pulitzer-winning writer Frank McCourt, author of “Angela’s Ashes.” Gilman recalled that it was Mr. McCourt, who received the first call, when her name first landed in the New York Times best-seller list in 2005, for her authorship of “Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress.” Gilman would go on to write, “Kiss My Tiara: How to Rule the World as a SmartMouth Goddess” and “Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven.” Stephanie of Biffybeans had an interesting interview with Gilman posted online. It turned out that Gilman is a diarist, who graduated from “Jumbo count” spiral notebooks to graph paper from Clairefontaine. Neat!
Photo via New York Times
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