Suzanne Fisher Staples led an adventurous life as a foreign correspondent before she began writing fiction for young adults in 1989. She worked for the United Press International (UPI) news agency's New Delhi bureau, covering the war in Afghanistan and other major news stories during the eight years she was overseas (1975-83). Staples became frustrated by what she felt was a lack of interest in events in Asia by editors back home. "I began to believe the news was not necessarily a good medium for fostering cultural understanding in America--at least news from parts of the world where the way of life is very different from the American one," she recalled in an article for Bookbird. "I also grew increasingly interested in writing fiction." That interest has led Staples to publish three well-received young adult novels, including the Newbery Honor book, Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind.

Staples was born...