Donna Woolfolk Cross
Encyclopedia
Donna Woolfolk Cross is an American
writer
and the author of the novel Pope Joan
, about a supposed female Catholic Pope
from 855 to 858. She is the daughter of Dorothy Woolfolk
, a pioneering woman in the American comic book
industry, and of novelist William Woolfolk.
in English from the University of Pennsylvania in 1969, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. She worked as an editorial assistant for the London, England, publishing
company W.H. Allen and Company
, then returned to the U.S. to work for the New York City
advertising agency
Young & Rubicam
. She returned to college to earn a master's degree
in Literature and Writing from UCLA in 1972, and the following year, by now married, she took a position with Onondaga Community College
in Syracuse
, New York
, teaching writing. She later became a full-time author, and has published four non-fiction books and one novel.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and the author of the novel Pope Joan
Pope Joan (novel)
Pope Joan is a 1996 novel by American writer Donna Woolfolk Cross. It is based on the medieval legend of Pope Joan. For the most part this novel is the story of a young woman, whose desire to gain more knowledge compels her to dress up as a man, who eventually rises to become the pope.The novel...
, about a supposed female Catholic Pope
Pope Joan
Pope Joan is a legendary female Pope who, it is purported, reigned for a few years some time in the Middle Ages. The story first appeared in the writings of 13th-century chroniclers, and subsequently spread through Europe...
from 855 to 858. She is the daughter of Dorothy Woolfolk
Dorothy Woolfolk
Dorothy A. Woolfolk née Dorothy Roubicek was a pioneering woman in the American comic book industry. The first female editor at DC Comics, one of the two largest companies in the field, she is credited with helping to create the fictional metal kryptonite in the Superman mythos.-Early life and...
, a pioneering woman in the American comic book
American comic book
An American comic book is a small magazine originating in the United States and containing a narrative in the form of comics. Since 1975 the dimensions have standardized at 6 5/8" x 10 ¼" , down from 6 ¾" x 10 ¼" in the Silver Age, although larger formats appeared in the past...
industry, and of novelist William Woolfolk.
Biography
Donna Woolfolk Cross received her bachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in English from the University of Pennsylvania in 1969, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. She worked as an editorial assistant for the London, England, publishing
Publishing
Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...
company W.H. Allen and Company
Virgin Books
Virgin Books is a United Kingdom book publisher 90% owned by the publishing group Random House, and 10% owned by Virgin Enterprises, the company originally set up by Richard Branson as a record company.-History:...
, then returned to the U.S. to work for the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
advertising agency
Advertising agency
An advertising agency or ad agency is a service business dedicated to creating, planning and handling advertising for its clients. An ad agency is independent from the client and provides an outside point of view to the effort of selling the client's products or services...
Young & Rubicam
Young & Rubicam
Y&R is a marketing and communications company specializing in advertising, digital and social media, sales promotion, direct marketing and brand identity consulting.-History:...
. She returned to college to earn a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Literature and Writing from UCLA in 1972, and the following year, by now married, she took a position with Onondaga Community College
Onondaga Community College
Onondaga Community College is an accredited two-year educational institution that services Onondaga County, New York at three campuses. Onondaga Community College is a college of the State University of New York system and one of 30 locally sponsored community colleges throughout New York...
in Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, teaching writing. She later became a full-time author, and has published four non-fiction books and one novel.
Non-fiction
- Word Abuse: How the Words We Use Use Us (1979) ISBN 978-0-698-10906-3
- Daddy's Little Girl: The Unspoken Bargain Between Fathers and Their Daughters (1983) (with William Woolfolk) ISBN 978-0-13-196279-8
- Mediaspeak: How Television Makes Up Your Mind (1984) ISBN 978-0-451-62802-2
- Speaking of Words: A Language Reader (1986) (with James MacKillop) ISBN 978-0-03-003953-9