Dave Eggers

Dave Eggers is an accomplished American author, editor, and publisher, best known for his literary fiction and non-fiction works. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Eggers grew up in Lake Forest, Illinois, the son of a school teacher and a lawyer. He attended the University of Illinois, where he studied journalism before the untimely death of both his parents led him to take care of his younger brother and abandon his studies. This period in his life served as the basis for his first book, "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius," which chronicled his experiences as a young adult dealing with the loss of his parents.

In addition to his writing, Eggers is also a successful publisher and editor. He founded his own publishing house, McSweeney's, which produces books, a quarterly journal of new writing, and a monthly magazine. McSweeney's also publishes Voice of Witness, a nonprofit book series that uses oral history to shed light on human rights crises around the world. Eggers' work in publishing has earned him a reputation as a champion of new writing and a supporter of emerging writers.

Eggers is married to fellow writer Vendela Vida and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition to his work as an author and publisher, he is also the co-founder of 826 National, a network of tutoring centers around the country, and ScholarMatch, a nonprofit organization that connects students with resources, schools, and donors to make college possible. Eggers is known for his dedication to social causes and his commitment to supporting education and literacy.