One Book, One Community - About the Author

Jeannette Walls was born in Phoenix, AZ in 1960 to father Rex, an electrician, and mother Rose Mary, an artist and occasional schoolteacher. Her memoir, The Glass Castle, tells the story of Walls and her three siblings growing up in nearly constant poverty and living a nomadic existence as her parents try to stay one step ahead of creditors.

At age 17, Walls moved to New York City to live with her older sister. After a newspaper internship, she attended Barnard College financing her education with student loans, scholarships and her own earnings. She graduated in 1984.

In 2002, Walls married journalist John Taylor, who encouraged her to tell her story. The resulting book became an award-winner and New York Times best-seller. They currently reside in Virginia. Her writing career has included serving as a reporter for New York magazine, Esquire and USA Today.