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Demi (September 2, 1942) born Charlotte Dumaresq Hunt, is an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator. During her career she has published over 130 titles.

Biography

Demi was born in Cambridge, MA, She is the great-grand daughter of the American painter William Morris Hunt, and the great-grand niece of architect Richard Morris Hunt.. Demi earned her nickname as a young child when her father started calling her demi because she was half the size of her sister.

She studied art at Instituto Allende, Mexico, and with Sister Corita at the Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles. She was a Fulbright scholar at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India where she received her Master’s degree.

Demi is known for her biographies for spiritual figures including Buddha, Krishna, Lao Tzu, Jesus, Mary (mother of Jesus), Muhammad, Rumi, Francis of Assisi, Gandhi, and the Dalai Lama.

In 1990, Demi and her husband Tze-si “Jesse” Huang represented the United States at the First Children’s International Book Conference in Beijing.

Awards and Honors

The Empty Pot was selected by former First Lady Barbara Bush in 1990 as one of the books to be read on the ABC Radio Network Program Mrs. Bush's Story Time. Gandi was awarded the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award; while Muhammad was named a New York Times Best illustrated Book.

Select Bibliography

• St. Francis of Assisi, Wisdom Tales, 2012 (forthcoming)
• Conference of the Birds (Illustrator, by Alexis York), Wisdom Tales, 2012 (forthcoming)
• Tutankhamun, Marshall Cavendish, 2009
• Genghis Khan, Marshall Cavendish, 2009
• Rumi: Persian Poet, Whirling Dervish, Marshall Cavendish, 2009
• The Girl Who Drew a Phoenix, Margaret K. McElderry, 2008
• Marco Polo, Marshall Cavendish, 2008
• The Magic Pillow, Margaret K. McElderry, 2008
• The Boy Who Painted Dragons, Margaret K. McElderry, 2007
• The Legend of Lao Tzu and Tao Te Ching, Margaret K. McElderry, 2007
• Su Dongpo: Chinese Genius, Lee & Low, 2006
• Mary, Margaret K. McElderry, 2005
• Mother Theresa, Margaret K. McElderry, 2005
• Jesus, Margaret K. McElderry, 2005
• The Greatest Power, Margaret K. McElderry, 2004
• The Legend of St Nicholas, Margaret K. McElderry, 2003
• Muhammad, Margaret K. McElderry, 2003
• King Midas: The Golden Touch, Margaret K. McElderry, 2002
• Gandhi, Margaret K. McElderry, 2001
• The Dalai Lama: Forward by his Holiness The Dalai Lama, Henry Holt 1998
• One Grain of Rice: A Mathematical Folk Tale, Scholastic, 1997
• Buddha, Henry Holt, 1996
• The Empty Pot, Henry Holt 1990
• Liang and the Magic Paintbrush, Henry Holt, 1988
• The Hallowed Horse: A Folktale from India, Dodd Mead, 1987

Michael Oren Fitzgerald (b. 1949) is an author, editor and entrepreneur. He and his wife, Judith Fitzgerald, have an adult son and live in Bloomington, Indiana.

Author and editor

The first book Fitzgerald recorded and edited was Yellowtail: Crow Medicine Man and Sun Dance Chief. It is the story of the late Thomas Yellowtail, one of the most honored American Indian spiritual leaders of the last century. Choice Magazine wrote, “This book becomes the personal testament of a pivotal figure in recent Crow cultural history. The book describes in exquisite detail Yellowtail’s philosophy. Fitzgerald examines the place of the Sun Dance, and of the sacred, in the life and future of the Crow…It is a serious work of anthropology and history.” Fitzgerald first met Susie Yellowtail, who is now enshrined in the Montana Hall of Fame, when he was Joseph Epes Brown’s graduate teaching assistant at Indiana University for “Religious Traditions of the North American Indians”. Fitzgerald spent the summer of 1971 living with Thomas and Susie Yellowtail on the Crow Indian Reservation in Wyola, Montana, where he participated in the tribal Sun Dance and was adopted into the Yellowtail family and the Crow tribe. Following Dr. Brown’s 1972 departure to Montana, Fitzgerald taught a course of the same name in the Indiana University Continuing Studies Department for two years.

Fitzgerald married his wife, Judith, in 1972. The Yellowtails introduced the Fitzgeralds to many spiritual leaders of other American Indian tribes. Over the next forty years Judith and Michael Fitzgerald spent extended periods of time visiting reservations and attending sacred ceremonies throughout the American West, including the sacred rites of the Crow, Sioux, Cheyenne, Shoshone, Bannock, and Apache Tribes. “Michael Fitzgerald has heard the poignant narratives of the American Indian people, and has lived among the Crow people for extended periods of time since 1970. He has studied American Indian religious traditions on the earth, among the people, in ceremonies and family gatherings. We thank Fitzgerald for his deep-seated appreciation, honor, and respect for American Indian culture, its religion, language, and lifeways.”—Janine Pease, founding president of the Little Big Horn College, National Indian Educator of the Year and a McArthur Genius Award winner. These contacts led to the creation of a number of books and two documentary films on the American Indians. Fitzgerald has also lectured widely on American Indian history and culture at various colleges and high schools.

Fitzgerald and his wife, Judith, a graduate of Indiana University and a calligrapher, and graphic designer, co-edited an award-winning series, Library Journal wrote, “World Wisdom has recently inaugurated a series of books, ‘Sacred Worlds,’ that combines impressive imagery—both new and old fine arts, as well as contemporary and vintage photography—with selections from world faith traditions.” called "Sacred Worlds". Michael Fitzgerald took many of the photographs in this series and in his other books during their travels to visit traditional cultures around the world.

Fitzgerald has now authored or co-edited more than a dozen books on world religions, sacred art, culture, and philosophy that have received more than fifteen awards and have been published in five different languages. Concerning The Universal Spirit of Islam, Publishers Weekly has written: “This book sets out to explore if these sources [the Koran and hadith] provide a basis for improving interfaith relations. The Fitzgeralds give the reader space to come to their own conclusions, not taking sides in their preface. Their selections of Koranic and hadith passages show a unique sensitivity to and understanding of Islam. Accompanied by lovely photographs … as well as reprints of Islamic art and illuminated Korans, the titular ‘spirit’ of Islam comes across as reflective, wise, and bridge-building.” At least ten of his books and two documentary films produced by him are used in university classes. A selected bibliography is listed below..

Select Bibliography

The following is a selected bibliography of recent and awarding winning titles authored, edited or co-edited by Michael Fitzgerald:

• Frithjof Schuon: Messenger of the Perennial Philosophy (author), 2010
• Foundations of Oriental Art & Symbolism, by Titus Burckhardt, edited by Michael Fitzgerald, 2009
  • Silver Midwest Book Award for “Illustration”
• Living in Two Worlds: The American Indian Experience, by Charles Eastman (Ohiyesa), edited by Michael Fitzgerald, 2009
  • Best Book 2010 Award Finalist for “Multicultural Non-Fiction” by USA Book News
• Christian Spirit, co-edited with Judith Fitzgerald, 2004.
  • Winner Midwest Book Award for “Religion/Philosophy”
• The Sermon of all Creation: Christians on Nature, co-edited with Judith Fitzgerald, 2005.
  • Silver Midwest Book Award for “Nature”
  • Silver Midwest Book Award for “Religion/Philosophy”
• The Spirit of Indian Women, co-edited with Judith Fitzgerald, 2005.
  • Winner Midwest Book Award for “Multicultural”
  • Winner Midwest Book Award for “Religion/Philosophy”
• The Universal Spirit of Islam: From the Koran and Hadith, co-edited with Judith Fitzgerald, 2006.
  • Silver Midwest Book Award for “Religion/Philosophy/Inspiration”
  • Silver Benjamin Franklin Award for “Religion”
  • Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Award Finalist for “Religion”
• Indian Spirit: Revised & Enlarged, co-edited with Judith Fitzgerald, 2006.
  • Winner Midwest Book Award for “Culture”
  • Winner Midwest Book Award for “Religion/Philosophy/Inspiration”
• The Foundations of Christian Art: Illustrated, by Titus Burckhardt, edited by Michael Fitzgerald 2006.
  • Winner Midwest Book Award for “Interior Layout”
  • Silver Benjamin Franklin Award for “Arts”
• Native Spirit: The Sun Dance Way, by Thomas Yellowtail, recorded and edited by Michael Fitzgerald, 2007.
  • Winner Midwest Book Award for “Culture”
  • Midwest Book Award for “Religion/Philosophy/Inspiration”
  • Silver Benjamin Franklin Award “New Age/Metaphysics/Spirituality”
• The Essential Charles Eastman (Ohiyesa): Light on the Indian World (revised & updated edition), by Charles Eastman (Ohiyesa), edited by Michael Fitzgerald, 2007.
  • Silver Midwest Book Award for “Religion/Philosophy/Inspiration”
• The Spiritual Legacy of the American Indian: Commemorative Edition With Letters While Living With Black Elk, by Joseph Epes Brown, co-edited with Elenita Brown and Marina Brown Weatherly, 2007.
• Introduction to Hindu Dharma: Illustrated, by Jagadguru His Holiness Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swamigal, edited by Michael Fitzgerald 2008.

Fitzgerald also produced two documentary films:

• The Sun Dance Way, 2006.
  • Official Selection for the “Montreal First Peoples’ Festival”
  • Official Selection for the “American Indian Film Festival”
• Native Spirit, 2007.
  • Official Selection for the “American Indian Film Festival”
  • Official Selection for the “Talking Stick Film Festival”

Entrepreneurial career

Michael Fitzgerald founded or co-founded more than a dozen successful businesses. The largest is Sunrise Greetings/ InterArt Holding Corporation, which was a $72 million greeting card company when he sold it to Hallmark cards in 1998. The businesses Fitzgerald co-founded employed approximately 1,000 people from 1997 through 2000. Fitzgerald retired from day to day business activity in 2000 to focus on his writing.

Fitzgerald holds an Honor’s Degree in Religious Studies from Indiana University, with Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude distinctions, and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Indiana University Maurer School of Law - Bloomington with Cum Laude distinction.

See also

• Perennial Philosophy
• Frithjof Schuon
• René Guénon
• Titus Burckhardt
• Ananda Coomaraswamy
• Martin Lings
• Tage Lindbom
• William Stoddart
• Whitall Perry
• Harry Oldmeadow
• Patrick Laude

External Links

• The Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, in Indiana, has an online news article on the Fitzgerald family, giving some additional details of Michael Fitzgerald's entrepreneurial and philanthropic activities.