Richard Ford is an American novelist and short-story writer, best known for the novel Sportswriter (and its sequels) and the short-story series Rock Springs. Ford was diagnosed with dyslexia in his late 30s, but he might not have become a writer if it wasn’t for this realization. According to an interview, Ford almost became a lawyer before deciding to focus on his writing. His struggle with mild dyslexia actually helped him become a better writer and appreciate literature because he was able to take a slower and more thoughtful approach to reading.

Born and raised in Mississippi, Ford worked on the railroad before going to college. Ford then went to school at Michigan State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English. Following his success in college, Ford went on to teach middle school in Flint, MI before enlisting in the Marine Corps. He later went on to receive his Master of Fine Arts from the University of California, Irvine in 1970. His first novel, A Piece of My Heart, was published in 1976, initiating his writing career. Ford has won numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize and Pen/Faulkner Award for Independence Day – the sequel to Sportswriter.

Read the full interview with Richard Ford and more about his career here.

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