Homer Hickam

Homer Hickam first captured national attention in 1999 when his memoir "Rocket Boys" (also known as "October Sky") climbed to the #1 spot on the New York Times best-selling list. The memoir details Hickam's upbringing in Coalwood, West Virginia, focusing particularly on his high school years spent crafting high-flying rockets. Translated into eight languages and selected by numerous American cities for annual Community Reads, "Rocket Boys" has established itself as a significant literary work, and was even adapted into a popular movie titled "October Sky," featuring Jake Gyllenhaal as young Homer.

In addition to "Rocket Boys," Hickam has co-authored "My Dream of Stars: From Daughter of Iran to Space Pioneer," a memoir with Anousheh Ansari, the first Muslim woman to travel into space. His more recent work includes the 2010 novel "The Dinosaur Hunter," a mystery centered around dinosaur bones. Hickam is also known for his series of novels featuring Josh Thurlow, a World War II Coast Guard officer, with titles including "The Keeper’s Son" (2003), "The Ambassador’s Son" (2005), and "The Far Reaches" (2007).

Raised in the Appalachian Mountains, Hickam is recognized for his storytelling skills, encapsulating the essence of Coalwood and his experiences as a Rocket Boy in his narratives. Beyond his literary achievements, Hickam is a decorated Vietnam combat veteran, and his expertise extends to scuba diving and paleontology. He served as a NASA engineer during the 1980s and 1990s, contributing to significant projects including the Hubble Space Telescope and training astronauts for Spacelab and Space Station missions. Recently, Hickam discovered a juvenile Tyrannosaurus Rex in Montana, underscoring his ongoing passion for paleontology. As he continues to write both fiction and nonfiction, Hickam remains a prominent figure capable of inspiring others through his diverse accomplishments and stories of overcoming adversity.