Homer Hickam
Homer Hickam
================
Full Name and Common Aliases
Homer H. Hickam Jr.
Birth and Death Dates
Born: April 22, 1943
Died: Not applicable (still alive)
Nationality and Profession(s)
American writer, physicist, and NASA engineer
Early Life and Background
Homer Hickam was born in Coalwood, West Virginia, on April 22, 1943. Growing up in a small mining town had a profound impact on his life and writing career. He spent much of his childhood exploring the surrounding woods, building rockets, and dreaming big. These early experiences would later influence his writing and inspire him to become an accomplished author.
Hickam's family struggled financially, but he found solace in reading and science. He was especially drawn to chemistry and physics, which led him to pursue a career in engineering. After graduating from Marshall University with a degree in physics, Hickam worked as a NASA engineer at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
Major Accomplishments
Hickam's most notable accomplishment is his work on the Saturn V rocket program, which successfully landed astronauts on the Moon during the Apollo 11 mission. He was part of the team that designed and developed the rocket's guidance system, contributing to one of humanity's greatest achievements in space exploration.
Notable Works or Actions
Hickam's writing career took off with his debut novel, _The Coalwood Way_ (2007), which became a _New York Times_ bestseller. The book is a memoir that explores his childhood and early years as a NASA engineer. He followed up with several more novels, including _Rocket Boys: A Memoir_ (1998), which won the American Institute of Physics Science Communication Award.
Impact and Legacy
Hickam's writing has inspired countless readers with its themes of perseverance, hard work, and following one's dreams. His stories about growing up in Coalwood have captured the hearts of many, and his contributions to space exploration are an integral part of human history. As a writer and engineer, Hickam has left a lasting impact on both literature and science.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Hickam is widely quoted for his insights into the importance of education, hard work, and pursuing one's passions. His writing often emphasizes the value of learning from failure and using it as an opportunity to grow. Readers appreciate his unique perspective on life, which blends science, literature, and small-town American values.
As a writer, Hickam has captured the imagination of readers worldwide with his engaging stories and historical accounts. As a scientist, he contributed significantly to one of humanity's greatest achievements in space exploration. His legacy continues to inspire new generations of writers, engineers, and scientists to pursue their dreams and strive for greatness.
Quotes by Homer Hickam
The best way to learn to write is to read in the genre you might be interested in; then, you need to actually sit down and write. In a lot of cases, the first book you write will not get published. Do not get hung up on that. Start a second book.
A memoir is not an autobiography. It's a true story told as a novel, using techniques of novelization. The author is allowed to compress events, combine characters, change names, change the sequence of events, just as if he's writing a novel. But it's got to be true.
I ate supper after Dad saw the evening shift down the shaft, and I went to sleep to the ringing of a hammer on steel and the dry hiss of an arc welder at the little tipple machine shop during the hoot-owl shift.
Tired of burning fossil fuel and polluting the planet? The moon is covered with helium 3, an isotope from the sun that is the perfect fuel for clean fusion reactors.
I have the best fans of any author in the country and they deserve the best from me, too!
I always give a little talk before I sign books and ask for questions. I love the Q&A sessions. We have a lot of fun at my book signings. I make sure of that!
The time frame is summer 1961, a year after the gold medal in the National Science Fair. I always saw my 'Coalwood' books as a trilogy. This book finishes the story of my life in Coalwood. I think it's the best of the three.
If politicians want to save money, that's fine. They can look for all the wasteful spending they want, but not where the lives of miners are involved.
When legislators do something that doesn't make a whole lot of sense, there's always the suspicion that they're in somebody's pocket.