Ann C. Crispin | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ann Carol Tickell (1950-04-05)April 5, 1950 Stamford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | September 6, 2013(2013-09-06) (aged 63) Waldorf, Maryland, U.S. |
| Pen name | A. C. Crispin |
| Occupation | Writer,Computer Programmer[1] |
| Alma mater | University of Maryland[1] |
| Period | 1983–2013 |
| Genre | Science fiction, screennovelization |
| Notable works | Yesterday's Son,Sarek,The Han Solo Trilogy |
| Notable awards | Tie-in Writers Grandmaster |
| Spouse | Randy Crispin (divorced) Michael Capobianco (m. 2001) |
| Website | |
| accrispin | |
Ann Carol Crispin (April 5, 1950 – September 6, 2013) was an American science fiction writer and the author of 23 published novels. She wrote severalStar Trek andStar Wars novelizations; she also created an original science fiction series calledStarBridge.
Crispin started writing in 1978,[2] and her career began in 1983. As a writer of "tie-in" novels she was known for developing the backgrounds and emotional lives of on-screen characters.[1]
Two of herStar Trek novels—Yesterday's Son andTime for Yesterday—were direct sequels to the third-season episode "All Our Yesterdays", and detail Spock and Zarabeth's son.[3]Yesterday's Son was the first non-novelization Star Trek novel to appear on theNew York Times Best Seller list.[4] Her laterStar Trek works included the novelSarek, which takes place afterStar Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. Her best-knownStar Wars work,The Han Solo Trilogy, chronicles the life ofHan Solo prior toStar Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.[1] Crispin also wrote the novelizations forTheV miniseries[1] and the filmAlien Resurrection, as well asSylvester, a girl and horse film starring Melissa Gilbert.[5]
When an editor working forDisney was seeking an author to write a novel dealing with the backstory ofCaptain Jack Sparrow, a major character from thePirates of the Caribbean franchise, they contacted Crispin's agent and contracted her to write the book after readingThe Han Solo Trilogy, which focused on Han Solo's backstory.[6] According to Crispin herself, it took her three years to write and she did a lot of research on the historical period and the nautical stuff. She was also given the script forAt World's End before the film released, but her book was finished before the script forOn Stranger Tides was written.[7][8] The instructions for A. C. Crispin in writingPirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom were to "stick to historical fact, unless it conflicts with established Pirates of the Caribbean continuity." Crispin made a faithful effort to do this, having done plenty of research, withUnder the Black Flag byDavid Cordingly being one of the four pirate-related books she found herself using the most consistently.[9] When releasing the fifth excerpt of her book, Crispin spoke of how she was privileged to write the scene where Han first beheld—and fell for—theMillennium Falcon inThe Han Solo Trilogy. She assured fans it was every bit as thrilling to write the scene with Jack Sparrow and themerchant shipWicked Wench.[10]The Price of Freedom was published on May 17, 2011.[11]
She also created her own StarBridge series of novels, aimed primarily at young readers.[1]
Crispin was Eastern Regional Director,[1] and then Vice President, of theScience Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.[12] With Victoria Strauss, she founded Writer Beware, a "watchdog" group that is part of SFWA that warns aspiring writers about the dangers of scam agents, editors, and publishers.[12] Writer Beware was founded in 1998, and has assisted law enforcement and civil authorities in tracking and shutting down writing scams.[1][13]
On April 19, 2013, Crispin was named the 2013 Grandmaster by the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers (IAMTW).[1]
Her final completed work beingTime Horse.[14]
On September 3, 2013, StarTrek.com posted Crispin's farewell message after her prolonged battle withbladder cancer deteriorated and became terminal. In the message Crispin said, "I want to thank you all for your good wishes and prayers. I fear my condition is deteriorating. I am doing the best I can to be positive but I probably don't have an awful lot of time left. I want you all to know that I am receiving excellent care and am surrounded by family and friends."[15]
She died only three days later, at 63.[16]
