"A vast apparition towered over her on the doorstep. It wore a loose salmon pink coat, beneath which hung boldly patterned skirts that hid all but a few inches of dark green rubber boots. Its head was swathed in a bulging turban held together with numerous safety pins and a glittery turquoise brooch. Coils of feathery scarf floated around its neck, and tucked under its arm was an enormous imitation crocodile handbag."

This colorful description of the divorced dad who dresses as a housekeeper in order to see more of his children comes from Anne Fine's popular young adult novel, Alias Madame Doubtfire, made into Twentieth Century-Fox's 1993 movie hit, Mrs. Doubtfire. While Fine wasn't involved in the making of the film, it sparked more interest in her work than any of the many awards she has won throughout her long career. A noted British author of novels for...