Sidney Offit

Sidney Offit (born October 13, 1928) is an American writer best known for his children's books and participation in nightly debates on WNEW-TV (now WNYW) during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Offit was also a major contributor to civic and literary life in New York, serving at different times as the President of both the Authors Guild Foundation and the Century Association, a board member of PEN American Center, and the long-time curator of the George Polk Awards in Journalism. He was also a celebrated writing teacher at The New School, New York University and Hunter College, whose students include Marita Golden and Ann Jones.

As a fixture of the New York literary scene during latter half of the 20th century, Offit befriended many of the era's most-celebrated writers, including Robert Caro, Ralph Ellison, Joseph Heller and Kurt Vonnegut. Vonnegut regarded Offit as his best friend and included him at the "clambake" in his semi-autobiographical novel ''Timequake.'' Since Vonnegut's death, Offit has reminisced about their close friendship in various fora, and edited the Library of America's collection of the late author's novels and short stories. He also provided the foreword to ''Look at the Birdie'', a volume of fourteen previously unpublished short stories by Vonnegut. Offit himself wrote two novels, ten books for younger readers, and two memoirs. Provided by Wikipedia