Ann Carol Crispin, often known as A.C. Crispin, was a highly respected American author, best known for her science fiction novels. She was born on April 5, 1950, in Stamford, Connecticut, and passed away on September 6, 2013, in Waldorf, Maryland. Crispin earned her Bachelor's degree in English Literature in 1972 from the University of Maryland and began her career as a novelist in 1983. She quickly gained recognition for her ability to create compelling backstories for characters from various mediums, earning her the nickname the "Queen of the Backstory."
Throughout her career, Crispin wrote over twenty novels, including the New York Times bestselling Starbridge series. This series, which is now available as Kindle ebooks and audiobooks, centers around a school for young diplomats, translators, and explorers located on an asteroid far from Earth. In addition to her original works, Crispin also wrote several movie tie-in novels, including those set in the universes of Star Wars, Star Trek, and Pirates of the Caribbean. She was named a Grandmaster in 2013 by the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers.
Crispin was also a prominent figure in the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, serving as Eastern Regional Director and then Vice President. With Victoria Strauss, she founded Writer Beware, a "watchdog" group that warns aspiring writers about the dangers of scam agents, editors, and publishers. Writer Beware, which was founded in 1998, has assisted law enforcement and civil authorities in tracking and shutting down writing scams.
Crispin was married to science fiction author Michael Capobianco. She passed away on September 6th, 2013, at the Hospice of Charles County in Waldorf, Maryland, at the age of 63. Her legacy lives on through her numerous novels and the positive impact she had on the writing community.