James Larson holds a PhD, in theater from the University of Kansas. As an actor, he studied with the late Zbigniew Cynkutis and performed coast to coast with Megan Terry's Magic Theatre. As a playwright, he received a Rockefeller grant and has had plays produced at venues such as the Wonderhorse in New York City and the Edinburgh Theater Festival.Before returning to the Midwest, Larson worked as an associate professor of theater and director of educational theater at NYU. Then, for twenty-eight years, he served as the artistic director of the Omaha Theater Company, where he initiated the educational, touring, and multicultural programs that exist today-and led the company to achieve the highest award in its field: the Sara Spencer Artistic Achievement Award.Now, with his novel ""A" is for the Alchemist: A Winnie and Winslow Adventure", Larson adds young-adult fiction author to his long list of credits.