Carolyn See, American author, Died at 82

Carolyn See, birthname Caroline Laws was born on January 13, 1934, and died on July 13, 2016.

She was a professor emerita of English at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the author of ten books, including the memoir, Dreaming: Hard Luck and Good Times in America, an advice book on writing, Making a Literary Life, and the novels There Will Never Be Another You, Golden Days, and The Handyman.

She was also a book critic for the Washington Post for 27 years.

She started writing articles for the Los Angeles Times and celebrity profiles for TV Guide, in the late 60’s.

In that period, Carolyn worked out her writing habit—one thousand words a day on white unlined paper in felt pens.

She also started writing non-fiction articles and reviews, See was approached by Little, Brown editor Harry Sions who encouraged her to write a novel which became The Rest is Done with Mirrors.

Her first teaching job was as the professor of English at Loyola Marymount University from 1970 until 1985.

Then, followed by a period as a visiting professor of English at her alma mater, UCLA, from 1986 to 1989, where she would later become an adjunct professor.

She also earned money by testifying for the defense in pornography trials, leading to the successful book Blue Money: Pornography and the Pornographers.

Other than writing, See also contributed to the literary world through reviews, and sat on review boards for awards.

Back when attended and earned her M.A. at the California State University, Los Angeles, she gave birth to her first daughter, Lisa See.

She won the Samuel Goldwyn Creative Writing Contest in 1958 for her unpublished novel The Waiting Game and used the two hundred and fifty dollar prize money to pay for her divorce from Richard See, who was her first husband.

Following her divorce, See married Tom Sturak and had her second daughter Clara Sturak.

Later, she finished her doctorate at UCLA and her dissertation was on the Hollywood novel.

Carolyn See passed away at 82 years old.