Jeff Stone (author)
Encyclopedia
Jeff Stone is an American author, best known for a series of Kung Fu themed books for teens called The Five Ancestors
, published by Random House
.
, and currently lives in the American Midwest. He is married and has two children, a daughter and son. He also has a python named Yokwan (Cantonese for Jade Bangle)
He thinks it's important to 'write what you know.'
Like the main characters in his award-winning Five Ancestors series, Jeff was an orphan
. He was adopted as an infant and always had a strong urge to uncover the secrets of his past. He began searching for his birth mother when he turned eighteen, and found her fifteen years later. A year after that, he found his birth father.
Also like his characters, Jeff practices the martial arts daily. He holds a black belt in Shaolin Do Kung Fu, and often trains in other styles as part of his research for his books. In 2005 he traveled to China
with the Shaolin Do grandmaster to take his black belt test inside the legendary Shaolin Temple.
Jeff has traveled to China on other occasions, most importantly in 1996 for a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony to his wife in her native Hong Kong
. (He passed that test, too.) Jeff thinks his English skills are pretty good, but his Chinese still needs a lot of work.
Jeff says he gets bored easily, and to prove it lists some of the jobs he's held since graduating from Michigan State University
with degrees in English and Journalism: maintenance man; concert promoter; photographer; editor; technical writer; graphic designer; industrial filmmaker; web developer; ballroom dance teacher; college English instructor; and marketing director for architectural firms that design schools, libraries, and skateboard parks.
These days, Jeff writes and speaks with kids full-time. It's the longest and best single job he's ever had.
The Five Ancestors
The Five Ancestors is a YA book series written by Jeff Stone about five, young Chinese warrior monks who are the only survivors of the destruction and raid of their home, Cangzhen Temple. Each of the warriors specializes in an animal kung fu and possesses a Cantonese animal name: Fu , Malao , Seh ,...
, published by Random House
Random House
Random House, Inc. is the largest general-interest trade book publisher in the world. It has been owned since 1998 by the German private media corporation Bertelsmann and has become the umbrella brand for Bertelsmann book publishing. Random House also has a movie production arm, Random House Films,...
.
Biography
Jeff Stone grew up in Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, and currently lives in the American Midwest. He is married and has two children, a daughter and son. He also has a python named Yokwan (Cantonese for Jade Bangle)
He thinks it's important to 'write what you know.'
Like the main characters in his award-winning Five Ancestors series, Jeff was an orphan
Orphan
An orphan is a child permanently bereaved of or abandoned by his or her parents. In common usage, only a child who has lost both parents is called an orphan...
. He was adopted as an infant and always had a strong urge to uncover the secrets of his past. He began searching for his birth mother when he turned eighteen, and found her fifteen years later. A year after that, he found his birth father.
Also like his characters, Jeff practices the martial arts daily. He holds a black belt in Shaolin Do Kung Fu, and often trains in other styles as part of his research for his books. In 2005 he traveled to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
with the Shaolin Do grandmaster to take his black belt test inside the legendary Shaolin Temple.
Jeff has traveled to China on other occasions, most importantly in 1996 for a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony to his wife in her native Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. (He passed that test, too.) Jeff thinks his English skills are pretty good, but his Chinese still needs a lot of work.
Jeff says he gets bored easily, and to prove it lists some of the jobs he's held since graduating from Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
with degrees in English and Journalism: maintenance man; concert promoter; photographer; editor; technical writer; graphic designer; industrial filmmaker; web developer; ballroom dance teacher; college English instructor; and marketing director for architectural firms that design schools, libraries, and skateboard parks.
These days, Jeff writes and speaks with kids full-time. It's the longest and best single job he's ever had.
The Five Ancestors series
- Tiger (2003)
- Monkey (2003)
- Snake (2005)
- Crane (2008)
- Eagle (2008)
- Mouse (2009) (titled Mantis in the U.K. and Australia)
- Dragon (2010)