Born in Texas, William Hauptman first traveled to California and New York in the sixties. A graduate of the Yale School of Drama, he is the author of both plays and fiction. “Domino Courts” won an Obie Award. “Big River,” an adaptation of “Huckleberry Finn,” written in collaboration with composer Roger Miller, won seven Tony awards when it opened on Broadway. His fiction has appeared in the Best American Short Stories anthology, and he has published a collection of stories, “Good Rockin’ Tonight,” and a novel, “Storm Season.”

Hauptman has also contributed journalism to the Atlantic Monthly, Texas Monthly and the New York Times Magazine and written several screenplays for the studios. He has taught at the James A. Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas, and his work is part of the Southwest Writer’s collection at Texas State University in San Marcos. His daughter, Sarah, is employed by the State Department, and his son, Max, is a captain in the United States Army.