Who is Neil Gaiman? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

British Celebrities Born In November

Also Known As: Neil Richard MacKinnon Gaiman, Neil Richard Gaiman

Age: 63 Years, 63 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Amanda Palmer (m. 2011), Mary McGrath (1985–2007)

father: David Bernard Gaiman

mother: Sheila Gaiman (née Goldman)

siblings: Claire Edwards, Lizzy Calcioli

children: Anthony Gaiman, Holly Gaiman, Maddy Gaiman, Michael Gaiman

Born Country: England

Quotes By Neil Gaiman British Men

Height: 5'11" (180 cm), 5'11" Males

City: Hampshire, England

More Facts

awards: 1991 · A Midsummer Night's Dream - World Fantasy Award—Short Fiction
2009; 2002 · The Graveyard Book; American Gods - Hugo Award for Best Novel
2003 · American Gods - Nebula Award for Best Novel

2006; 2002 · Anansi Boys; American Gods - Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel
2009 · The Graveyard Book - John Newbery Medal
2010 · The Graveyard Book - Carnegie Medal
2012 · Doctor Who - Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation; Short Form
2008 · Stardust - Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation; Long Form
2009 · Blueberry Girl - Goodreads Choice Awards Best Picture Books
2009 · The Graveyard Book CD - Audie Audiobook of the Year
2020 · Full Throttle - Audie Award for Short Stories/Collections
2004 · A Study in Emerald - Hugo Award for Best Short Story
2015; 2013 · Trigger warning; The Ocean at the End of the Lane - Goodreads Choice Awards Best Fantasy
2020 · Hard Times - Ray Bradbury Award
2003 · Coraline - Hugo Award for Best Novella
2015 · The Graveyard Book - Audie Award for Multi-voiced Performance
2004 · Coraline - Nebula Award for Best Novella
2016 · Overture. Sandman - Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story
2001 · American Gods - Bram Stoker Award for Novel
2005 · Marvel 1602 - Quill Award for Graphic novel
2006 · Anansi Boys - August Derleth Award
2007; 2006;2005· How to Talk to Girls at Parties; Sunbird; Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Nameless House of the Night of Dread Desire - Locus Award for Best Short Story
2018 · Norse Mythology - Audie Award for Narration By The Author or Authors
2015; 2009 · The Graveyard Book; The Graveyard Book CD - Audie Award for Children's Titles Ages 8-12
Angoulême International Comics Festival Prize for Scenario
2008 · The Graveyard Book - Cybils Award for Fantasy & Science Fiction - Elementary & Middle Grade
2016 - Gran Guinigi for Best Writer
2006;1999 · Anansi Boys; Stardust - Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature
2007 · Fragile Things - Locus Award for Best Collection
2010 · Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? - SFX Award for Best Graphic Novel
2009 · The Graveyard Book - Locus Award for Best Young Adult Book
1994; 1993;1992 · The Sandman
Miracleman;The Books of Magic - Eisner Award for Best Writer
2014 · neilhimself - Shorty Award for Best Author
2010 · The Graveyard Book - SFX Award for Best Novel
2010 · Fragile Things - Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire for foreign short fiction
2009 · Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? - Goodreads Choice Awards Best Graphic Novels & Comics

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Childhood & Early Life

Neil Richard Gaiman was born on November 10, 1960, in Portchester, England, to David Bernard Gaiman, a businessman, and Sheila Gaiman, a pharmacist. He has two younger sisters, Claire and Lizzy.

His family moved to the Sussex town of East Grinstead in 1965 where his parents studied ‘Dianetics’ in the Scientology center of the town.

He became an avid reader at the age of four. He also received the school English prize and school reading prize for his interest in reading.

In his childhood, he was truly inspired by fantasy novels, such as J. R. R. Tolkien’s ‘Lord of the Rings,’ C. S. Lewis’s ‘The Chronicles of Narnia,’ and Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.’

During his childhood, he attended several schools, such as ‘Fonthill School’ in East Grinstead and ‘Ardingly College.’ He completed high school from ‘Whitgift School’ in Croydon in 1977.

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Career

In the early-1980s, he became a journalist and started conducting interviews. He also began writing book reviews, extensively for ‘British Fantasy Society.’ His first professional short story ’Featherquest’ was published in 1984.

In 1984, he wrote a book of quotations with Kim Newman. Titled ‘Ghastly Beyond Belief,’ the book proved to be quite successful. He stopped working as a journalist in 1987.

In 1987, he started writing comic books. He also collaborated with his friend Dave McKean to produce graphic novels, such as ‘Violent Cases,’ ‘Signal to Noise,’ and ‘The Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy of Mr. Punch.’

Impressed by his work, ‘DC Comics’ hired him to write a three-part series called ‘Black Orchid,’ which was appreciated by the fans. His next big project for ‘DC Comics’ was a comic book series titled ‘The Sandman,’ which became an instant hit.

His first novel ‘Good Omens’ was published in collaboration with Terry Pratchett in 1990. He also published novels, such as ‘Neverwhere’ and ‘Stardust’ in the 1990s. In 2001, he came up with ‘American Gods.’

He wrote a novella titled ‘Coraline’ for young adult readers in 2002. ‘Coraline’ was well-received by the readers. He then came up with a similar young adult fantasy novel titled ‘The Graveyard Book’ in 2008.

His other famous novels include ‘Anansi Boys’ (2005) and ‘The Ocean at the End of the Lane’ (2013).

He also wrote the screenplay for films, such as ‘Mirrormask’ (2005) and ‘Beowulf’ (2007). He wrote the screenplay for TV series, such as ‘Babylon 5’ and ‘Doctor Who.’

In 2017, his book ‘Norse Mythology’ was published. It is based on the tales and myths of North Germanic people.

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Gaiman’s book ‘American Gods’ has been adapted into a TV series that airs on Starz. The series has received worldwide acclaim. His 2008 book ‘The Graveyard Book’ will be adapted into a film with Ron Howard as its director.

Quotes: You, Love, Heart

Major Works

One of his finest works is his 2001 novel ‘American Gods.’ Acclaimed critically and commercially, the fantasy novel became a best seller upon its release and won him many awards. It depicts the struggle between the European gods of ancient origin and the newer, more arrogant American gods.

In 2008, he wrote another fantasy novel titled ‘The Graveyard Book’ which follows the adventures of a boy named Bod. When Bod’s family gets murdered, he is left to be brought up by ghosts in a graveyard. It is a masterpiece and was awarded two of the most prominent medals of the literary world.

Awards & Achievements

In 2001, he received the ‘Bram Stoker Award’ for ‘Best Novel’ for his widely acclaimed fantasy novel ‘American Gods.’ For the same novel, he also won the ‘Hugo Award’ for ‘Best Novel’ and ‘Nebula Award’ for ‘Best Novel’ in 2002.

For his 2002 fantasy novel ‘Coraline,’ he was honored with several awards, including the ‘Hugo Award’ for ‘Best Novella,’ ‘Nebula Award’ for ‘Best Novella,’ and ‘Bram Stoker Award’ for ‘Best Work for Young Readers’ in 2003.

He received the 2006 ‘Mythopoeic Fantasy Award’ for ‘Adult Literature’ and the 2006 ‘British Fantasy Award’ for ‘Best Novel’ for his novel ‘Anansi Boys.’

He won both the ‘Carnegie Medal’ and the ‘John Newbery Medal’ for his 2008 masterpiece ‘The Graveyard Book.’ It was the first time both the medals were awarded for the same work.

He received the ‘Book of the Year’ award for his novel ‘The Ocean at the End of the Lane’ at the 2013 ‘National Book Awards.’

He was presented with an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from the ‘University of Arts’ in 2012. He received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters from the ‘University of St. Andrews’ in 2016.

For advocating freedom of expression worldwide and inspiring several writers, he was honored with an award by the ‘Barnes & Noble Writers.’

Quotes: You

Personal Life & Legacy

While living in East Grinstead, he met Mary McGrath who was studying Scientology. They had their first child Michael in 1983 and got married in 1985.

In 1985, they were blessed with a girl named Holly. Few years later, they were blessed with another girl, Madeleine.

The couple grew apart in the later years of their marriage and eventually got divorced in 2007 after a long separation.

In 2011, he married singer and performer Amanda Palmer after dating her for more than two years. Amanda has identified herself as bisexual. In September 2015, the couple was blessed with a son whom they named Anthony.

Neil Gaiman Biography