William J. Brittain

William E. "Bill" Brittain (1930–2011) was an American writer born in Rochester, New York. Before writing full time, he worked as a teacher and reading specialist, and that classroom feel shows in his books: the language is clear, the characters are lively, and the strange events always feel grounded in ordinary life.

He first built a strong reputation through mystery short stories, publishing more than 70 of them in magazines such as Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine and Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine. He later became especially well known for books set in the fictional village of Coven Tree, where folk magic, humor, and small-town trouble meet.

His most famous book, The Wish Giver: Three Tales of Coven Tree, received a Newbery Honor in 1984. Readers also remember him for titles like Devil's Donkey, Dr. Dredd's Wagon of Wonders, and Professor Popkin's Prodigious Polish.