Dean Hughes

Dean Hughes (born August 24, 1943) is an American author of historical novels and children's books. He has written 105 books as well as various poems and short stories. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Hughes is a prominent author of LDS fiction for children and juveniles. Many of Hughes's books are sports or war themed. Hughes is most well known for his historical World War II era Children of the Promise series for adults. His novel Midway to Heaven was adapted into a feature-length film in 2011. Before he became a full-time author, Hughes taught English at Central Missouri State University. He taught creative writing at Brigham Young University.

Biography Dean Hughes was born on August 24, 1943, in Ogden, Utah. After his senior year in high school, Dean Hughes started his first novel; however, the novel was rejected. He attended Weber State University studying English, and received a master's degree in creative writing and a PhD in literature from the University of Washington. Before he became a full-time writer, he taught English at Central Missouri State University for 8 years. Hughes also taught creative writing at Brigham Young University. Hughes has published poems, books, and short stories for a variety of ages. According to Eugene England, Hughes is one of the authors of the fourth and current period of Mormon literature who is credited with writing high quality children's and young adult literature.

In 2001, his World War II novel Soldier Boys was published. In September 2013, Hughes celebrated the publication of his 100th book, Through Cloud and Sunshine. Hughes's 2003 novel, Midway to Heaven, was adapted into a feature-length film of the same title in 2011. This was the first of Hughes's published works to be adapted into a film.

Hughes was the keynote speaker for Brigham Young University-Idaho's Education week in June 2018.

Personal life Dean Hughes is married to Kathleen Hurst Hughes and has three children and nine grandchildren. They live in Midway, Utah. Hughes and his wife Kathy served an LDS mission in Nauvoo, Illinois. Hughes is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 2007, Hughes received a Lifetime Achievement award at the inaugural Whitney Awards. In April 2013 he was awarded an Outstanding Achievement AML Award.

He has also received AML Awards for Young Adult Literature (1994) for The Trophy, Novel (1998) for Far from Home, and Novel (2019) for Muddy: Where Faith and Polygamy Collide. He was a finalist or received an honorable mention in 2005 and 2007.

Bibliography (books only) Bibliographical items are found on the Mormon Literature & Creative Arts website. 2. River: Where Faith and Consecration Converge (March 2020)

Standalone Fiction Honestly, Myron (March, 1982) Switching Tracks (September, 1982) Family Pose (March, 1989) Family Picture (March, 1990) Lullaby and Goodnight (March, 1992) Quick Moves (September, 1993) End of the Race (October, 1993) Jelly's Circus (August, 1986) Brothers (January, 1986) Theo Zephyr (September, 1987) Cornbread and Prayer (June, 1988) The Trophy (September, 1994) One-Man Team (October, 1994) Backup Soccer Star (March, 1995) Team Picture (October, 1996) Brad and Butter: Play Ball! (March, 1998) Soldier Boys (December, 2001) Midway to Heaven (2004) Search and Destroy (2005) Saboteur: A Novel of Love and War (August, 2006) Before the Dawn (August, 2007) Promises to Keep: Diane's Story (October, 2008) Missing in Action (March, 2010) Home and Away (October, 2015) Four-Four-Two (November, 2016) Displaced (September 2020) One Last Joy Ride (May, 2022)

Non-fiction The Mormon Church: A Basic History (1986) Baseball Tips Book (February, 1993) Great Stories from Mormon History (with Tom Hughes) (1994) All Moms Go To Heaven (2005) The Cost of Winning: Coming in First Across The Wrong Finish Line (2008)