Bio

When Annie Fox's first book People Are Like Lollipops (1971, Holiday House) was published, she wasn't old enough to legally sign the contract! By the time she turned 21, though, she decided that helping kids was going to be her life's work. After graduating from Cornell University with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies then completing her Master’s in Education from the State University of New York at Cortland, Annie set off on a teaching career. After a very few years in the classroom, computers changed her life as she began to explore the ways in which technology could be used to empower kids.

She and her husband David opened the world's first public access microcomputer facility (Marin Computer Center) in 1977, which led her to write her best selling book, Armchair BASIC: An Absolute Beginner's Guide to Microcomputers and Programming in BASIC (1983, Osborn/McGraw-Hill). From there she tried her hand at screen writing which eventually brought her back to computers as an award-winning writer/designer of children's CD ROMs. (Putt-Putt; Madeline; Get Ready for School, Charlie Brown; and Mr. Potato Head Saves Veggie Valley are just a few of the titles on which she has worked.)

In 1996 Annie dreamed up the idea for The InSite, a place "for teens and young adults to turn their world around." For 3 years she served as creator, designer, writer, and executive producer of that award-winning site. One of The InSite’s most popular features was Hey Terra, a Cyberspace Dear Abby. Her book The Teen Survival Guide to Dating & Relating: Real World Advice About Guys, Girls, Growing Up And Getting Along (Previously titled Can You Relate?, 2000, Free Spirit Publishing) is based on hundreds of emails to Terra and Annie’s responses to them.

From 1999-2001 Annie served as Director of Content Development for STEPonline.com, creating a powerfully engaging, Internet based drug awareness and substance abuse prevention program for teens.

Through her Workshops for teens, public speaking, and her ongoing work on the Internet, Annie continues working toward her goal of empowering young people through increased self-awareness, emotional intelligence skills and stress-reduction strategies. Too Stressed to Think? A Teen Guide to Staying Sane When Life Makes You CRAZY, co-authored with Ruth Kirschner, was published in October 2005 by Free Spirit Publishing. The first book of Annie's new series Middle School Confidential was published August 2008.

When not answering Terra letters, Annie enjoys yoga, meditation, cooking, hiking, traveling, and, most of all, being with David and the rest of the family.