Dean Hughes Explained

Dean Hughes
Birth Date:24 August 1943
Birth Place:Ogden, Utah, U.S.
Occupation:Author
Education:Weber State University
University of Washington (PhD)
Awards:AML Awards (x3)
Spouse:Kathleen Hurst Hughes
Children:3

Dean Hughes (born August 24, 1943) is an American author of historical novels and children's books. He has written 105 books as well as various poems and short stories. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Hughes is a prominent author of LDS fiction for children and juveniles. Many of Hughes's books are sports or war themed. Hughes is most well known for his historical World War II era Children of the Promise series for adults. His novel Midway to Heaven was adapted into a feature-length film in 2011. Before he became a full-time author, Hughes taught English at Central Missouri State University. He taught creative writing at Brigham Young University.

Biography

Dean Hughes was born on August 24, 1943, in Ogden, Utah.[1] After his senior year in high school, Dean Hughes started his first novel; however, the novel was rejected.[2] He attended Weber State University studying English, and received a Masters in creative writing and a PhD in literature from the University of Washington. Before he became a full-time writer, he taught English at Central Missouri State University for 8 years. Hughes also taught creative writing at Brigham Young University.[2]

In 1979, Dean Hughes published his first book, Under the Same Stars. Since 1979, Hughes has written and published 105 books.[3] Hughes has published poems, books, and short stories for a variety of ages. Much of his writing is targeted to children and young adults (particularly sports-themed and World War II-era books), although he is also well known to adult readers of LDS Fiction for Children of the Promise and Hearts of the Children series, set in World War II and Vietnam War eras respectively.[2] [4] According to Eugene England, Hughes is one of the authors of the fourth and current period of Mormon literature who is credited with writing high quality children's and young adult literature.[5]

In 2001, his World War II novel Soldier Boys was published. In September 2013, Hughes celebrated the publication of his 100th book, Through Cloud and Sunshine.[6] Hughes's 2003 novel, Midway to Heaven, was adapted into a feature-length film of the same title in 2011. This was the first of Hughes's published works to be adapted into a film.[7]

Hughes was the keynote speaker for Brigham Young University-Idaho's Education week in June 2018.[8]

Personal life

Dean Hughes is married to Kathleen Hurst Hughes and has three children and nine grandchildren. They live in Midway, Utah.[9] Hughes and his wife Kathy served an LDS mission in Nauvoo, Illinois.[10] Hughes is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Awards

In 2005, Hughes won the Smith-Pettit Foundation Award for Outstanding Contribution to Mormon Letters for Children of the Promise.[11] In 2007, Hughes received a Lifetime Achievement award at the inaugural Whitney Awards.[12] In April 2013 he was awarded an Outstanding Achievement AML Award.[13]

He has also received AML Awards for Young Adult Literature (1994) for The Trophy, Novel (1998) for Far from Home, and Novel (2019) for Muddy: Where Faith and Polygamy Collide. He was a finalist or received an honorable mention in 2005 and 2007.

Bibliography (books only)

Bibliographical items are found on the Mormon Literature & Creative Arts website.

Fiction series

Adventures of Young Joseph Williams

Nutty Nutsell

Hooper Haller

Lucky Ladd

Angel Park All Stars

Angel Park Soccer Stars

Angel Park Hoop Stars

Angel Park Karate Stars

Children Of The Promise

Scrappers

Hearts of the Children

Come to Zion

Muddy River

Standalone Fiction

Non-fiction

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dean Hughes . Mormon Literature & Creative Arts . Brigham Young University . December 5, 2018.
  2. News: Interview with Novelist Dean Hughes . November 16, 2018 . Meridian Magazine . April 13, 2001.
  3. News: Best-Selling LDS Author Dean Hughes Releases His 101st Book . November 30, 2018 . LDS Living.
  4. Anderson . Dawn Hall . Dalton . Dlora Hall . Review . Journal of Mormon History . Fall 2007 . 33 . 3 . 236–246 . 23289912 .
  5. Web site: Eugene England: Mormon Literature: Progress and Prospects. mldb.byu.edu. 2018-11-30.
  6. "LDS author Dean Hughes marks his 100th published book" by Christine Rappleye, Deseret News. Published Sept. 19, 2013. Accessed April 14, 2014.
  7. News: Clark . Cody . 'Heaven' help us: New film could help Mormon cinema bounce back . November 30, 2018 . The Daily Herald . Herald Communications . January 30, 2011.
  8. News: Children, Youth, Adults Invited to BYU-Idaho's Annual Education Week . November 30, 2018 . Newsroom . The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . June 5, 2018.
  9. Web site: Dean Hughes. Simon & Schuster. en. 2018-11-16.
  10. News: Jones . Jay . Mormons' past echoes in town . November 30, 2018 . Chicago Tribune . December 27, 2009.
  11. Web site: AML Awards 2004-2005 . Dawning of a Brighter Day: Twenty-First Century Mormon Literature . Association for Mormon Letters . November 16, 2018.
  12. Web site: Achievement Award Winners . Whitney Awards . LDStorymakers . November 16, 2018.
  13. Web site: Hall . Andrew . 2013 AML Awards . Dawning of a Brighter Day: Twenty-First Century Mormon Literature . Association for Mormon Letters . November 16, 2018. 2014-04-20 .
  14. Web site: Dean . Hughes . Muddy, Book 1: Where Faith and Polygamy Collide, A Historical Novel . Deseret Book . Deseret Book Company . May 13, 2019.

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