About Robert Lipsyte

Robert Lipsyte is a sports columnist of the New York Times He is author of sixteen books, including adult titles such as In the Country of Illness: Comfort and Advice for the Journey, and fine young adult novels like The Contender and One Fat Summer, two of many which were edited by Charlotte.

A former network correspondent at CBS and NBC, Lipsyte (pictured left, photo by Sandy Geis/ The New York Times) won an Emmy in 1990 for on-camera achievement as host of the nightly WNET public affairs broadcast, "The Eleventh Hour." He was also host of  "The Health Show," a weekly live half-hour of medical and health-related reportage. In both 1966 and in 1996, he won Columbia's Meyer Berger Award for distinguished reporting. In 1992, he was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in commentary.

Born in 1938, a Columbia graduate, Robert Lipsyte lives in Manhattan. His son, Sam Lipsyte, is the author of a recently published collection of short stories, Venus Drive.

About Robert Lipsyte's Books

Bob Lipsyte's titles for adults include Nigger (with Dick Gregory) (1964, Dutton), The Masculine Mystique (1966, New American Library).

His novels for HarperCollins novels for young adults include The Contenders , One Fat Summer (cover pictured right); Summer Rules; Jock and Jill; The Summerboy; The Brave; The Chemo Kid, and The Chief.

Robert Lipsyte on being edited by CZ

" First, there was her handwriting, tiny and deadly, in the margins of my first young adult novel. I hated her. Her comments were those vicious darts that go right to the places you knew were unprotected. The weak spots you hoped would slip past because you were lazy, tired, didn't have the technique. She wanted clarity, character development, better words. 

"Then there was her voice, tiny and deadly. I still didn't like her, especially after I discovered that she was beautiful and appeared totally composed. With that voice and handwriting and brilliant editorial savagery, I thought it would be only fair if she looked like a Sendak troll.

And she made "The Contender" better.

"Eventually, my books became Charlotte Zolotow Books, which made me proud, and I came to love her because she taught me to anticipate her editing while I was writing. She made me work harder, think through character more fully, press on until I found a better way of showing something, the best words.

"Who can ever be thankful enough for such a gift?  She edited me less as time went on because I channeled her, and I still do. Would Charlotte let me get away with this? Is this good enough for Charlotte? Can I do better?

"I wish she were still writing on my manuscripts, on the all the margins
of my life."

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