Steve Kluger Explained

Steve Kluger
Birth Date:	24 June 1952
Birth Place:	Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Nationality:	American
Alma Mater:	Hackley School University of Southern California
Awards:	Alex Award (1999) Lambda Literary Award (2004) Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award (2009)

Steve Kluger (born June 24, 1952) is an American author, playwright, journalist, librettist and lyricist, whose writing is noted for its baseball, gay, and historical (particularly World War II) themes. He has also worked on civil rights, gay rights, and baseball community causes, including Japanese American internment redress and the campaign to save Fenway Park.^[1]

His second novel, Last Days of Summer, is the basis for the 2018 musical of the same title.^[2]

Steve Kluger lives in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Early life and education

Kluger was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated from Hackley School in Tarrytown, New York, in 1970, and attended the University of Southern California.

Published and produced works

Novels

• Changing Pitches (1984)^[3]
• Last Days of Summer (1998)^[4]
• Almost Like Being in Love (2004)^[5]
• My Most Excellent Year (2008)^[6]

Non-fiction

• Yank: World War II from the Guys Who Brought You Victory (1990) ^[7]

Plays

• Bullpen (1984)^[8]
• Cafe 50's (1988)^[9]
• Pilots of the Purple Twilight (1989)^[10]
• After Dark (2001)^[11]
• Last Days of Summer (musical, 2018) (book and lyrics)^[2]

Newspaper articles

For USA Today, Kluger has contributed the following commentaries:

• "Washington's Senators: Baseball As It Should Be," October 11, 2004^[12]
• "The Curse of the Black Sox," October 26, 2005^[13]
• "The Best Things in Life are Free—For Now," February 15, 2006^[14]
• "Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor—or Not," August 2, 2006^[15]
• "Foley Fade-Out," October 11, 2006^[16]
• "Field of Dreams," April 26, 2007^[17]
• "The Aging of Aquarius," August 13, 2009^[18]
• "Thank You, Mr. President, From Us Kids," November 22, 2013^[19]

Other newspaper and magazine pieces include:

• "You Gotta Have Heartburn," Sports Illustrated, May 16, 1983^[20]
• "'Play Ball!' — Words to Remember Manzanar," Los Angeles Times, August 7, 2002^[21]
• "Blame it All on the Gay Agenda," The Boston Globe, November 2, 2006^[22]

Awards and honors

Last Days of Summer won the American Library Association's Alex Award in 1999; Almost Like Being in Love won the 2004 Lambda Literary Award for Romance; and My Most Excellent Year received the 2009 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award for outstanding achievement in Young Adult fiction.

Notes and References

1. Web site: STEVE KLUGER: AUTHOR, RED SOX FAN, UNCLE. www.stevekluger.com. 22 November 2018.
2. Web site: BWW Review: LAST DAYS OF SUMMER at Kansas City Repertory Theatre. Alan. Portner. Broadwayworld.com. 22 November 2018.
3. News: IN SHORT. The New York Times. 15 July 1984 . 22 November 2018.
4. Web site: LAST DAYS OF SUMMER by Steve Kluger - Kirkus Reviews. Kirkusreviews.com. 22 November 2018.
5. Web site: Fiction Book Review: ALMOST LIKE BEING IN LOVE by Steve Kluger, Author . HarperPerennial $13.95 (353p) ISBN 978-0-06-059583-8. Publishersweekly.com. 22 November 2018.
6. Book: My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park. 19 February 2009. Speak. 978-0142413432.
7. Web site: Yank by Kluger, Steve - AbeBooks. Abebooks.com. 22 November 2018.
8. Web site: Bullpen - Samuel French. Samuelfrench.com. 22 November 2018.
9. Web site: STAGE REVIEW : Tasty, Enjoy-While-It-Lasts Fare at 'Cafe 50's'. SYLVIE. DRAKE. 27 February 1988. Article.latimes.com. 22 November 2018.
10. Web site: Pilots of the Purple Twilight - Samuel French. Samuelfrench.com. 22 November 2018.
11. News: 'After Dark': Love is Funny That Way, Washington Post.. .
12. Web site: STEVE KLUGER: AUTHOR, RED SOX FAN, UNCLE. Stevekluger.com. 22 November 2018.
13. Web site: STEVE KLUGER: AUTHOR, RED SOX FAN, UNCLE. Stevekluger.com. 22 November 2018.
14. Web site: STEVE KLUGER: AUTHOR, RED SOX FAN, UNCLE. Stevekluger.com. 22 November 2018.
15. Web site: STEVE KLUGER: AUTHOR, RED SOX FAN, UNCLE. Stevekluger.com. 22 November 2018.
16. Web site: STEVE KLUGER: AUTHOR, RED SOX FAN, UNCLE. Stevekluger.com. 22 November 2018.
17. Web site: STEVE KLUGER: AUTHOR, RED SOX FAN, UNCLE. Stevekluger.com. 22 November 2018.
18. Web site: STEVE KLUGER: AUTHOR, RED SOX FAN, UNCLE. Stevekluger.com. 22 November 2018.
19. Web site: STEVE KLUGER: AUTHOR, RED SOX FAN, UNCLE. Stevekluger.com. 22 November 2018.
20. News: YOU GOTTA HAVE HEARTBURN. Sports Illustrated Vault | Si.com. 22 November 2018.
21. Web site: STEVE KLUGER: AUTHOR, RED SOX FAN, UNCLE. Stevekluger.com. 22 November 2018.
22. Web site: STEVE KLUGER: AUTHOR, RED SOX FAN, UNCLE. Stevekluger.com. 22 November 2018.