A literary quiz -- Baltimore Sun version
The recent CityLit Festival was a reminder of the great literary talent in Baltimore. Reporters and editors connected to The Baltimore Sun alone could fill a nice-sized bookstore with their works. Don’t believe me? Here’s a quiz about authors who have links to the Sun -- how many can you name? Leave your answers in a comment; one lucky entrant will win a book noted here. (Answers will appear Wednesday.)
1. This former police reporter, best known for creating television series about life in Baltimore, started his post-Sun career with a book about city detectives.
2. This film critic recently won the National Award for Arts Writing for a biography about the Hollywood giant who directed Gone With the Wind and The Wizard of Oz.
3. Many of her mysteries incorporate Baltimore landmarks, and feature a private detective who owns a pet greyhound.
4. This duo is known for writing about and photographing Maryland’s environment, especially the Eastern Shore.
5. He recently was honored by the National Book Critics Circle for the tale of his father, an Iraqi Jew.
6. This former foreign correspondent’s thrillers take place on war’s fringe, in places such as Bosnia, Afghanistan and Guantanamo.
7. His biting commentary on politics, religion and the “booboisie” made him one of the nation’s greatest social critics.
8. This former sports columnist’s books have examined jockey Edgar Prado, Native Dancer and a North-South match race in 1823.
9. He has documented Jim Crow laws and William Donald Schaefer’s career, and his political commentary is often heard on WYPR.
10. His thrillers are populated with characters such as Bob Lee Swagger and overflow with machismo; one was made into the movie Shooter.
Photo courtesy of New Line Cinema
While she always preferred The Hardy Boys to Nancy Drew, 
Comments
1. Dave Simon
2. Michael Sragow
3. Laura Lippman
4. Tom Horton and David Harp
5. Ariel Sabar
6. Dan Fesperman
7. H.L. Mencken
8. John Eisenberg
9. Fraser Smith
10. Stephen Hunter
Posted by: Mary Dagold | April 26, 2009 11:06 AM
1 - David Simon
2 - Michael Sragow
3 - Laura Lippman
4 - Tom Horton and David Harp
5 - Ariel Sabar
6 - Dan Fesperman
7 - H. L. Mencken
8 - Joe Drape
9 - Marc Steiner
10 - Stephen Hunter
I have personally read several Laura Lippman and really like her
books. This was very interesting investigating!
Posted by: Linda Dousa | April 26, 2009 11:09 AM
I'm amazed at the number of books by Baltimore Sun people. I just heard a rumor that there are two more books forthcoming:
"How I was Forced into Witness Protection Because of a Stephen King--Stephenie Meyer Smackdown" by Dave Rosenthal
"I Read All the Time, Even When I'm Snowboarding. See?" by Nancy Johnston
If anyone can confirm or deny the above rumor and/or provide additional details, please comment. Maybe I have the book titles wrong and someone can provide the correct titles....
Posted by: Gail Farrelly | April 26, 2009 2:59 PM
Gail, great titles. You obviously have felt my pain and dismay amid the King-Meyer debate. And as you know, Nancy's first snowboarding experience left her broken and bruised; I hope she sticks to snow angels in the future.
Posted by: Dave | April 26, 2009 3:11 PM
Well the hazards of working on Sunday is posting 4th
1. David Simon
2. Michael Sragow
3. Laura Lippman
4. Tom Horton and David Harp. almost blew this one by not reading the clue carefully.
5.Ariel Sabar
6. Dan Fesperman. Met him once when he came to the Baltimore Civil War Museum when he was researching an article on the Carey Sisters who had the song Maryland My Maryland published.
7. Henry Louis Mencken
8, John Eisenberg
9. C. Fraser Smith. His book on Jim crow is halfway read.
10. Stephen Hunter. One of my favorite authors of action and of the factual book _AMERICAN SHOOTOUT.
I have read most of the authors here. Good writers all.
Posted by: Paul O'Neil | April 26, 2009 9:24 PM
"Nancy's first snowboarding experience .." ? More like Nancy's LAST snowboarding experience. Although writing a book about it would give me the freedom to use all those curse words I edited out for our family-friendly blog.
Posted by: Nancy | April 27, 2009 9:42 AM
Just got back from a weekend in Virginia and read today's Sun. Love the quiz; here are my answers:
1. David Simon
2. Mike Sragow
3. Laura Lippmann
4. David Harp and Tom Horton
5. Ariel Sabar
6. Dan Fesperman
7. H.L. Mencken
8. John Eisenberg
9. Fraser Smith
10. Steve Hunter
Posted by: Theresa Wiseman | April 27, 2009 11:12 AM
Dave Simon
2. Michael Sragow
3. Laura Lippman - Like her writings on Baltimore and story lines
4. Tom Horton and David Harp
5. Ariel Sabar
6. Dan Fesperman
7. H.L. Mencken
8. John Eisenberg
9. Fraser Smith
10. Stephen Hunter
Posted by: Diane Reilly | April 27, 2009 11:47 AM