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I s s a c   F r e e m a n

Born in a log cabin, raised by Indians (the Cleveland Indians).  Issac showed early talent, and was never to be found playing with the other boys on the streets of Cleveland.  This is because his parents moved to Indiana when he was 5. 

During Issac's teen years his parents continued to move around a lot, but he always managed to find them again.  After the war, he graduated from Harvard* majoring in simean anthropormorphic languages.  He taught for awhile, but then decided writing would be a lot easier.

His life was forever changed by a near-fatal hunting accident which almost took his life.  Fortunately the other hunter was a bad shot.  Issac - even in his severely inebriated condition - was able to fully defend himself.

From this harrowing incident grew his now-famous fascination with the gossamer dividing line between life and death; best summarized by Issac himself, "I remain fascinated by the gossamer dividing line between life and death."  This evolved to his celebration of lives well (and not so well) lived.

This incident was also the genesis of his fascination with ducks - as they were duck hunting at the time.  Ducks have become a constant theme in his works, as living metaphors for life ("always nipping at your heels") and flying machines.  It is not true that Mr. Freeman invented Duck Tape, as erroneously reported on some web sites.

He currently lives and works "in a comfortable place."  Mr. Freeman is the author of 38 well-received books (some of which have not been published nor fleshed-out yet).  In 2003 he won the Caldecott Prize for his autobiographical novel Duckman about his father-in-law.

In 1990, he established the Sharpshooter Foundation.  This organization is probably most recognized for annually awarding the Highly-Coveted Sharpshooter trophy (see the Details section) to the person or group who most accurately pre-celebrates the demise of well known personalities.