Jeannette Wallsnbsp;was born in Phoenix, Arizona, and grew up in the southwest and Welch, West Virginia. She graduated from Barnard College and was a journalist in New York City for twenty years. Her memoir, The Glass Castle, a triumphant account of overcoming a difficult childhood with her dysfunctional but vibrant family, has been a New York Times bestseller for over three years. A publishing sensation around the world, The Glass Castle has sold more than 2.5 million copies in the U.S. and has been translated into twenty-two languages. Walls is the recipient of numerous honors, including the Christopher Award for helping to quot;affirm the highest values of the human spirit,rdquo; as well as the American Library Associationrsquo;s Alex Award, and the Books for Better Living Award. The Glass Castlenbsp;was chosen as Elle magazineamp;#039;snbsp;book of the year. Walls lives in rural Virginia with her husband, the writer John Taylor.