Kathryn Stockett

Kathryn Stockett

Born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, Kathryn Stockett is an American novelist popular for her 2009 debut novel, The Help, depicting the lives of African-American maids working in white households in Jackson, Mississippi, during the 1960s. After graduating from the University of Alabama with a degree in English and creative writing, Stockett worked in magazine publishing for nine years while living in New York City before publishing her first novel. The Help took her five years to complete, and the book was rejected by more than 50 literary agents before agent Susan Ramer agreed to represent Stockett. The Help has since been published in 42 languages, has sold ten million copies, and spent more than 100 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list. A film adaptation of The Help, directed by Tate Taylor, released in 2011. Kathryn Stockett currently lives in Atlanta with her husband and daughter.