About Author

Susan Eloise Hinton was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has always enjoyed reading but wasn't satisfied with the literature that was being written for young adults, which influenced her to write novels like The Outsiders. She began writing it in 1965; the book was inspired by two rival gangs at her school, the Greasers and the Socs, and her desire to show sympathy toward the Greasers by writing from their point of view. It was published by Viking Press in 1967, during her freshman year at the University of Tulsa.

Her subsequent works include Young Adult fiction, children’s books, and novels for adults:

The Outsiders (1967)

That Was Then, This Is Now (1971)

Rumble Fish (1975)

Tex (1979)

Taming the Star Runner (1988)

Big David, Little David (1995, picture book)

The Puppy Sister (1995, chapter book)

Hawkes Harbor (2004)

Some of Tim's Stories (2006, short stories)

Hinton is very private about her personal life. She currently lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma with her husband. She has a son who is currently in college. On her website she has gives a short description of her daily life:

I'm a very private person, and I'm very uncomfortable talking about my personal life, but a few facts:

My hobby is horse-back riding; I've shown both jumping and dressage.

I read constantly, and occasionally take a class at the university. Not for credit - it's more fun when you don't have to take the tests!

A writer's life is not very exciting - usually you're alone in a room with your tools - paper, pen, imagination. (I usually write long-hand first, then put it on a computer.)

I walk the dog, ride my horse, wander the grocery store wondering what to cook for dinner.

So much for my glamourous life. 

I have a great husband, a wonderful son; I won't invade their privacy by saying any more. 

Unless I want to write about them. 

-S.E. Hinton