David Eddings

Eddings, 77, wrote more than two dozen novels, his most popular being the multi-volume “Belgariad” and “Malloreon” series. Born July 7, 1931, in Spokane, Washington. After graduating from high school in 1949, he worked for a year before majoring in speech, drama and English at junior college. Eddings displayed an early talent for drama and literature, winning a national oratorical contest, and performing the male lead in most of his drama productions. He graduated with a Batchelor of Arts degree from Reed College in 1954, studying Middle English. A master of arts degree followed, from the University of Washington in 1961. He wrote a novel for a thesis at Reed College before being drafted into the US Army. After several years as a college lecturer, a failure to receive a pay raise drove Eddings to leave his job, move to Denver and seek work in a grocery store. After a time working on missile development for the Boeing Company, Eddings wrote his debut novel, a contemporary adventure called High Hunt, in 1973.