Julius Lester (1939-2018) is the author of over 30 books for children and adults, for which he received numerous awards including a Newbery Honor, Caldecott Honor, Coretta Scott King Award, ALA Notable Book, and Smithsonian Magazine Best Book of the Year. His books include To Be a Slave, The Autobiography of God, John Henry, Time's Memory, and Do Lord Remember Me. He lived in Belchertown, Massachusetts.