Francesca Lia Block
Encyclopedia
Francesca Lia Block is the author of adult and young adult fiction, short stories, screenplays and poetry, most famously the Weetzie Bat
series. Block wrote her first book, Weetzie Bat
, while a student at UC Berkeley; it was published in 1989 by Harper Collins. She is known for her use of imagery, especially in describing the city of Los Angeles
. One New York Times Book Review critic said, "Block writes about the real Los Angeles better than anyone since Raymond Chandler
." She has collaborated with artistic photographer Suza Scalora
to write Evidence of Angels, released in 2009.
Block was born in Los Angeles to a poet and a painter, their creativity an obvious influence on her writing. Another influence was her childhood love of Greek mythology
and fairy tale
s. She has lived in the city all her life, and still resides there with her daughter, Jasmine Angelina (about whom she wrote her book Guarding the Moon), her son Samuel Alexander, and her two dogs: a springer spaniel named Vincent Van Go Go Boots and a beagle mix named Thumper. She left only to attend the UC Berkeley. She has often professed her love of Los Angeles, calling it a "jasmine-scented, jacaranda-purple, neon sparked city," which she has nicknamed in her books "Shangri-LA."
She is currently developing an original show for MTV
and writing the screenplay which will bring Weetzie Bat to the cinema. She is also the recipient of the 2005 Margaret A. Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award
from the American Library Association
. Block's work has been translated into seven different languages and is published around the world.
Block is a member of the Authors Guild, Authors League of America, and the Writers Guild of America
.
, where several parents' groups insisted that the book, among others, be removed from the local public library and publicly burned
.
Dangerous Angels
Weetzie Bat
Weetzie Bat is a young adult novel, the first written by American author Francesca Lia Block, originally published in 1989. It is the first in her Dangerous Angels series....
series. Block wrote her first book, Weetzie Bat
Weetzie Bat
Weetzie Bat is a young adult novel, the first written by American author Francesca Lia Block, originally published in 1989. It is the first in her Dangerous Angels series....
, while a student at UC Berkeley; it was published in 1989 by Harper Collins. She is known for her use of imagery, especially in describing the city of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. One New York Times Book Review critic said, "Block writes about the real Los Angeles better than anyone since Raymond Chandler
Raymond Chandler
Raymond Thornton Chandler was an American novelist and screenwriter.In 1932, at age forty-five, Raymond Chandler decided to become a detective fiction writer after losing his job as an oil company executive during the Depression. His first short story, "Blackmailers Don't Shoot", was published in...
." She has collaborated with artistic photographer Suza Scalora
Suza Scalora
Suza Scalora is an award-winning photographic artist and author focusing on the ethereal world of fairies and angels.Scalora's photographs have appeared in fashion magazines, news magazines, television, book covers, on-line art auctions, and websites. She wrote bestseller The Fairies in which her...
to write Evidence of Angels, released in 2009.
Block was born in Los Angeles to a poet and a painter, their creativity an obvious influence on her writing. Another influence was her childhood love of Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
and fairy tale
Fairy tale
A fairy tale is a type of short story that typically features such folkloric characters, such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments. However, only a small number of the stories refer to fairies...
s. She has lived in the city all her life, and still resides there with her daughter, Jasmine Angelina (about whom she wrote her book Guarding the Moon), her son Samuel Alexander, and her two dogs: a springer spaniel named Vincent Van Go Go Boots and a beagle mix named Thumper. She left only to attend the UC Berkeley. She has often professed her love of Los Angeles, calling it a "jasmine-scented, jacaranda-purple, neon sparked city," which she has nicknamed in her books "Shangri-LA."
She is currently developing an original show for MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
and writing the screenplay which will bring Weetzie Bat to the cinema. She is also the recipient of the 2005 Margaret A. Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award
Margaret Edwards Award
The Margaret A. Edwards Award is awarded annually to an author for a specific body of his or her work, which has made a significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature. It recognizes an author's work in helping adolescents become aware of themselves and addressing questions about...
from the American Library Association
American Library Association
The American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
. Block's work has been translated into seven different languages and is published around the world.
Block is a member of the Authors Guild, Authors League of America, and the Writers Guild of America
Writers Guild of America
The Writers Guild of America is a generic term referring to the joint efforts of two different US labor unions:* The Writers Guild of America, East , representing TV and film writers East of the Mississippi....
.
Baby Be-Bop controversy
In June 2009, Block's book Baby Be-bop, which deals with the life of a gay teenager, was part of a controversy in West Bend, WisconsinWest Bend, Wisconsin
West Bend is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Wisconsin, United States in southeastern Wisconsin. The population was estimated to be 29,894 in 2008...
, where several parents' groups insisted that the book, among others, be removed from the local public library and publicly burned
Book burning
Book burning, biblioclasm or libricide is the practice of destroying, often ceremoniously, books or other written material and media. In modern times, other forms of media, such as phonograph records, video tapes, and CDs have also been ceremoniously burned, torched, or shredded...
.
Dangerous AngelsDangerous AngelsDangerous Angels is a young adult fiction series by Francesca Lia Block. It is a compilation of five novels: Weetzie Bat, Witch Baby, Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys, Missing Angel Juan, and Baby Be-Bop...
series
- Weetzie BatWeetzie BatWeetzie Bat is a young adult novel, the first written by American author Francesca Lia Block, originally published in 1989. It is the first in her Dangerous Angels series....
(1989) - Witch BabyWitch BabyWitch Baby is the second book in the Dangerous Angels series of novels written by Francesca Lia Block. It follows the adventures of Witch Baby, a young purple eyed girl who lives with Weetzie Bat, My-Secret-Agent-Lover-Man, and the rest of their crazy clan.Witch Baby is trying to find her place...
(1991) - Cherokee Bat and the Goat GuysCherokee Bat and the Goat GuysCherokee Bat and the Goat Guys is the third book in the Dangerous Angels series by Francesca Lia Block. It focuses on Cherokee, the daughter of Weetzie Bat, and her friends as they start a band, find success, and deal with the corruption of their spirits.-Plot summary:While the grown-ups are away...
(1992) - Missing Angel JuanMissing Angel JuanMissing Angel Juan is the fourth book in the Dangerous Angels series by Francesca Lia Block. The plot revolves around Witch Baby as she travels to New York City to find her love Angel Juan and bring him back home to Los Angeles.-Plot:...
(1993) - Baby Be-Bop (1995)
- Necklace of Kisses (2005)
- Pink Smog (Prequel) (2012)
Weetzie Bat Collections
- Dangerous Angels: The Weetzie Bat Books (collection) (1998)
- Beautiful Boys: Two Weetzie Bat Books (collection) (2004)
- Goat Girls: Two Weetzie Bat Books (collection) (2004)
Standalone novels
- Ecstasia (1993)
- The Hanged Man (1994)
- Primavera (1994)
- I Was A Teenage Fairy (1998)
- Violet and Claire (1999)
- EchoEcho (novel)Echo fantasy novel by Francesca Lia Block, published in 2000 by Harper Collins. It follows the life of Echo, who, in her teens, meets a boy with angel wings, for whom she still finds herself waiting for years later...
(2001) - WastelandWasteland (Block novel)Wasteland is a novel written by Francesca Lia Block and published in 2003.The book is about the tragedy of love between family, incest, and the guilt, anger, and suicide of one of the siblings. It switches narratives and persons throughout the book, bouncing between the siblings Marina and Lex,...
(2003) - Ruby (2006)
- Psyche In A Dress (2006)
- Blood Roses (2008)
- Quakeland (2008)
- "The Waters and the Wild" (2009)
- Pretty Dead (2009)
- The Frenzy (2010)
- House of Dolls (2010)
- Fairy Tales in Electri-City (2011)
- Elementals (2013) (St. Martin's Press)
- Little Pink (to be announced)
Collections
- Moon Harvest: Poems (poetry) (1978)
- Season of Green: Poems (poetry) (1979)
- Girl Goddess #9: Nine Stories(1996)
- The Rose and the Beast: Fairy Tales Retold (2000)
- Nymph: Nine Erotic Stories (2003)
- Blood Roses (2008)
- How to (Un)cage a Girl (2008)
- Open Letter to Quiet Light (2009)
- Love Magick (as anthology Editor) (2012) (Armory Media)
Non-fiction
- Zine Scene: the do it yourself guide to zines (1998)
- Guarding the Moon: A Mother's First Year (2003)
- Wood Nymph Seeks Centaur: A Mythological Dating Guide (2009)
Short stories
- "My Virtual World", published in How Beautiful the Ordinary: Twelve Stories of IdentityHow Beautiful the OrdinaryHow Beautiful the Ordinary: Twelve Stories of Identity is an anthology of LGBTQ short stories for young adults edited by American author Michael Cart. It was first published in 2009...
(2009)