Jeannette Walls Bio, Wiki, Age, Height, Family, Husband, Books, Hang the Moon, Salary, and Net Worth

Jeannette Walls Biography

Jeannette Walls is an American author and journalist who was born and brought up in Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America. She is widely known as former gossip columnist for MSNBC.com and author of “The Glass Castle”, which is a memoir of the nomadic family life of her childhood.

Her books were published in 2005, and some of them remained on the New York Times in the list of Best Seller (now in paperback form) of the list dated on June 3, 2018, having persisted there for 421 weeks.

Walls began her career in journalism and worked for several publications, including New York magazine and MSNBC.com. She gained recognition for her work as a gossip columnist for “The Intelligencer” column in New York magazine, where she covered the lives of celebrities and socialites.

After the success of “The Glass Castle,” Walls continued to write, publishing her first fiction novel, “Half Broke Horses,” in 2009. The book is based on the life of Walls’ grandmother and offers a fictionalized account of her grandmother’s experiences growing up in the American West.

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10 Quick Facts About Jeannette Walls

1. Name: Jeannette Walls
2. Age: 63 Years (As of 2023)
3. Birthday: 21 April
4. Zodiac Sign: Taurus
5. Height: 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m)
6. Nationality: American
7. Occupation: Author and Journalist
8. Marital Status: Married
9. Salary: Under Review
10. Net worth: $14 Million

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Jeannette Walls Age

Walls is 63 years old as of 2023, she was born on 21 April 1960, in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. She celebrates her birthday on 21 April every year and her birth sign is Taurus.

Jeannette Walls Height

Walls stands at a height of 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m).

Jeannette Walls Weight

Walls Weighs 62 kg (136.4 lbs).

Early Life and Education

Jeannette Walls was born on April 21, 1960, in Phoenix, Arizona. She was the second oldest of four children in her family. Walls’ parents, Rex Walls and Rose Mary Walls, were unconventional and often moved around due to Rex’s difficulty in holding a steady job. As a result, Jeannette and her siblings experienced a nomadic lifestyle, living in various towns and cities across the southwestern United States.

Walls’ childhood was marked by poverty and challenging circumstances. Her parents struggled with alcoholism, and their unconventional approach to parenting left Walls and her siblings largely fending for themselves. They often faced hunger, inadequate living conditions, and instability.

Despite these difficulties, Walls developed a love for reading and learning at a young age. She found solace in books and saw education as a means to escape her circumstances. Walls attended high school in Phoenix, where she excelled academically. After graduating, she moved to New York City to pursue her dreams.

In New York, Walls attended Barnard College, the women’s liberal arts college affiliated with Columbia University. She graduated with honors in 1984, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. During her time at Barnard, Walls became involved in journalism and writing, which would shape her future career.

Rise to Fame

Jeannette Walls’ rise to fame began with the publication of her memoir, “The Glass Castle,” in 2005. The book became a significant success, resonating with readers worldwide and capturing the attention of critics and literary circles.

“The Glass Castle” chronicles Walls’ unconventional and challenging upbringing, detailing her experiences growing up in poverty, her parents’ struggles with addiction and mental illness, and the resilience she developed to overcome these obstacles. The memoir struck a chord with readers due to its honest and poignant portrayal of Walls’ personal journey.

Upon its release, “The Glass Castle” quickly gained popularity and became a bestseller, spending over 260 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list. It received widespread critical acclaim and was praised for Walls’ compelling storytelling and her ability to navigate complex themes such as family dynamics, poverty, and personal growth.

The success of “The Glass Castle” propelled Jeannette Walls to literary fame. She became a sought-after speaker, appearing at numerous book festivals, conferences, and events. Readers were captivated by Walls’ story and her ability to inspire others through her resilience and determination.

Following the success of her memoir, Walls expanded her literary career. In 2009, she published her first fiction novel, “Half Broke Horses.” The book, based on the life of Walls’ grandmother, was also well-received and further solidified her reputation as a talented writer.

Jeannette Walls Family, Parents

Walls was born to her parents Rex Walls and Rose Mary Walls in Arizona. She has two sisters, Lori and Maureen, and one brother, Brian. Her family life was rootless, with the family shuttling from Phoenix to California (including a brief stay in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco), to Battle Mountain, Nevada, and to Welch, West Virginia, with periods of homelessness.

When they finally landed in Rex’s Appalachian hometown of Welch the family lived in a three-room house without plumbing or heat, infested with snakes and rats.

Jeannette Walls Siblings

Jeannette spent her childhood with her three siblings, a brother named Brian Walls, and two sisters named Lori Walls and Maureen Walls.

Jeannette Walls Husband

Walls is currently married to her husband John Taylor, her fellow New York [magazine] writer. The couple tied the knot in 2002. They live outside Culpeper, Virginia, on a 205-acre farm. She was first married to Eric Goldberg from 1988 to 1996.

Jeannette Walls Net worth

Walls has an estimated net worth of $14 million dollars as of 2023. This includes her assets, money and income. Her primary source of income is her career as an author and journalist. Through her various sources of income, Jeannette has been able to accumulate a good fortune but prefers to lead a modest lifestyle.

Jeannette Walls Measurements and Facts

Here are some interesting facts and body measurements you should know about Jeannette.

Jeannette Walls Wiki

• Full Names: Jeannette Walls
• Popular As: Jeannette
• Gender: Female
• Occupation / Profession: Author and Journalist
• Nationality: American
• Race / Ethnicity: White
• Religion: Christian
• Sexual Orientation: Straight

Jeannette Walls Birthday

• Age / How Old?: 63 years (2023)
• Zodiac Sign: Taurus
• Date of Birth: 21 April 1960
• Place of Birth: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
• Birthday: 21 April

Jeannette Walls Body Measurements

• Body Measurements: Not Available
• Height / How Tall?: 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m)
• Weight: 62 kg (136.4 lbs)
• Eye Color: Black
• Hair Color: Brown
• Shoe Size: Not Available

Jeannette Walls Family and Relationship

• Father (Dad): Rex Walls
• Mother: Rose Mary Walls
• Siblings (Brothers and Sisters): Lori Walls, Maureen Walls, Brian Walls
• Marital Status: Married
• Dating / Boyfriend: Married to John Taylor
• Dating / Boyfriend: Not Applicable
• Children: Sons (None) Daughter(s) (None)

Jeannette Walls Net Worth and Salary

• Net Worth: $14 Million
• Salary: Under Review
• Source of Income: Author and Journalist

Jeannette Walls Career

Jeannette Walls Early in her career Walls interned at a Brooklyn newspaper called The Phoenix and eventually became a full-time reporter there. From 1987 to 1993 she wrote the “Intelligencer” column for New York magazine.

Jeannette Walls wrote a gossip column for Esquire, from 1993 to 1998, then contributed regularly to the gossip column “Scoop” at MSNBC.com from 1998 until her departure to write full-time in 2007. She has contributed to USA Today and has appeared on The Today Show, CNN, Primetime, and The Colbert Report.

Her 2000 book, Dish: The Inside Story on the World of Gossip, was a humorous history of the role gossip has played in U.S. media, politics and life. In that book, Walls incidentally outed conservative cyber-gossip Matt Drudge as gay.

In 2005, She published the best-selling memoir The Glass Castle, which details the joys and struggles of her childhood. It offers a look into her life and that of her dysfunctional family. The Glass Castle was well received by critics and the public.

It has sold over 2.7 million copies and has been translated into 22 languages. It received the Christopher Award, the American Library Association’s Alex Award (2006), and the Books for Better Living Award.

In 2009, Walls published her first novel, Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel, based on the life of her grandmother Lily Casey Smith. It was named one of the ten best books of 2009 by the editors of The New York Times Book Review. Walls’ latest novel, The Silver Star, was published in 2013.

Jeannette Walls finished high school in the city with the aid of grants, loans, scholarships and a year spent answering phones at a Wall Street law firm. Reviewers of Jeannette Walls’s 2005 memoir, The Glass Castle, often mentioned the “truth is stranger than fiction” aphorism.

Walls is part of New York’s media elite, the author of a widely read gossip column published four times a week on the Web site MSNBC.com. Imposingly tall and usually described as a style-savvy redhead, she rose to a position of immense power in the celebrity-news-driven culture of the late 1990s.

Later, there were times when there was no food in the house, nor even lunches for them to take to school, but their parents refused to enroll them in a free-lunch program.

Sometimes Walls stole food from the lunch sacks of her classmates to stave off hunger. The family usually fled from one town to another to avoid creditors, but Rex would tell the children that the bill collectors were actually government agents.

“We were always supposed to pretend our life was one long and incredibly fun adventure,” Walls writes in The Glass House, in which she also recounts one escape when her father tossed the family cat out of the window of a moving car as they departed.

From there she went on to Barnard College, part of the Columbia University system. She graduated in 1984, having financed her degree with some scholarship funds, student loans, and her own earnings.

Five years later, she moved on to MSNBC.com, where her “Scoop” column ranks among the leading scandalmongers in a pack that includes syndicated veterans Liz Smith and Cindy Adams, as well as the, feared Richard Johnson of New York Post ‘s “Page Six” and his New York Daily News counterpart, Lloyd Grove. She published her first book in 2000.

Dish: The Inside Story on the World of Gossip, was not a tell-all on the industry, but instead recounted its history in American pop culture over the decades. It also charted the explosive rise of a celebrity-driven media industry over the past decade.

Jeannette Walls House

Jeannette Walls Selected Writings

• Dish: The Inside Story on the World of Gossip, William Morrow & Company (New York City), 2000.
• The Glass Castle: A Memoir, Scribner (New York City), 2005

Jeannette Walls Books

• The Silver Star 2013
• Half Broke Horses: Study Guide 2013
• Half Broke Horses 2009

• The Glass Castle 2005
• Dish: The Inside Story on the World of Gossip 2000
• Nannie’s Kitchen Keepsakes & Recipes 1999

Jeannette Walls Works

• Dish: The Inside Story on the World of Gossip. New York: Avon Books, Inc. March 2000. ISBN 0-380-97821-0.
• The Glass Castle. New York: Scribner. March 2005. ISBN 0-7432-4753-1.
• Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel. New York: Scribner. October 2009. ISBN 1-4165-8628-8.
• The Silver Star. Scribner, 2013.

Notable Travel, Events, and Experiences

Jeannette Walls has had a variety of notable travel experiences and has participated in significant events throughout her life. Here are some of her notable travel, events, and experiences:

• Nomadic Childhood: Walls’ childhood was marked by a nomadic lifestyle as her family frequently moved across different towns and cities in the southwestern United States. This experience exposed her to various places and cultures from a young age.
• New York City: After graduating from high school, Walls moved to New York City to pursue her dreams. The city became a significant location in her life, where she attended college, established her career in journalism, and eventually wrote and published her memoir.
• Writing “The Glass Castle”: Walls’ writing of “The Glass Castle” was a deeply personal and transformative experience. Reflecting on her challenging upbringing and the resilience she developed, Walls poured her emotions and memories into the memoir. The process of writing the book allowed her to confront her past and gain a deeper understanding of herself.
• Speaking Engagements: Following the success of “The Glass Castle,” Walls embarked on speaking engagements where she shared her story and insights with audiences around the world. She has participated in book festivals, conferences, and educational events, using her experiences to inspire and motivate others.
• Book Tours and Interviews: Walls has gone on book tours to promote her works, including “The Glass Castle” and “Half Broke Horses.” During these tours, she has engaged in interviews with various media outlets, discussing her life, writing process, and the themes explored in her books.
• Influence on Education: Walls has been an advocate for education, emphasizing its importance in empowering individuals to overcome adversity. She has spoken at educational institutions and events, sharing her own journey and encouraging students to pursue their dreams.

Future Aspirations and Goals

Jeannette Walls has achieved great success as a writer, but she still has many aspirations and goals for the future. She has said that she would like to write more books, both fiction and nonfiction. She would also like to continue to speak to audiences about her experiences and her writing.

In addition to her writing goals, Walls is also interested in social justice issues. She has spoken out about poverty, homelessness, and the need for education reform. She is also a supporter of the arts and believes that they can play a role in social change.

Walls is a talented writer and a passionate advocate for social justice. She is an inspiration to many people, and her future aspirations and goals are sure to be ambitious and impactful.

Here are some of Jeannette Walls’ future aspirations and goals:

• Write more books, both fiction and nonfiction.
• Continue to speak to audiences about her experiences and her writing.
• Use her platform to advocate for social justice issues, such as poverty, homelessness, and education reform.
• Support the arts and believe that they can play a role in social change.

Social Impact: Philanthropic, Charitable and Community Involvement

Jeannette Walls is a talented writer and a passionate advocate for social justice. She has used her platform to raise awareness about a number of important issues, including poverty, homelessness, and education reform. She has also been involved in a number of philanthropic and charitable organizations.

Here are some of the ways in which Jeannette Walls has made a social impact:

• She has spoken out about poverty and homelessness. Walls has spoken at a number of events about her experiences growing up in poverty and homelessness. She has also written about these issues in her books. Her work has helped to raise awareness about these issues and the challenges that people facing poverty and homelessness face.
• She has advocated for education reform. Walls believes that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty. She has spoken out about the need for education reform and has supported a number of organizations that are working to improve education for children in poverty.
• She has supported the arts. Walls believes that the arts can play a role in social change. She has supported a number of arts organizations that are working to provide opportunities for children in poverty.
• She has been involved in a number of philanthropic and charitable organizations. Walls has donated her time and money to a number of philanthropic and charitable organizations. She has worked with organizations that are working to improve the lives of children in poverty, homeless people, and victims of domestic violence.

Jeannette Walls Awards Accomplishments and Achievements

Jeannette Walls’ memoir, “The Glass Castle,” received critical acclaim and garnered several awards and accolades. Here are some of her notable awards, accomplishments, and achievements:

• Christopher Award: In 2006, “The Glass Castle” was honored with the Christopher Award, which recognizes books, films, and television programs that highlight the power of the human spirit to positively impact society.
• American Library Association Alex Award: The Alex Award, presented by the American Library Association, recognizes adult books that have special appeal to young adults. “The Glass Castle” received this prestigious award in 2006.
• Books for a Better Life Award: In the same year, Walls’ memoir won the Books for a Better Life Award in the Personal Memoir category. This award celebrates books that inspire and provide guidance for personal growth and self-improvement.
• New York Times Best Seller: “The Glass Castle” spent over 260 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list, becoming a long-standing bestseller and gaining widespread popularity among readers.
• Inspirational Speaker and Advocate: Jeannette Walls became a sought-after inspirational speaker, sharing her personal story and promoting resilience, overcoming adversity, and the importance of education. She has appeared at various events, conferences, and universities to inspire and motivate audiences.
• Cultural Impact: “The Glass Castle” has had a significant cultural impact, sparking conversations about poverty, family dynamics, and personal resilience. The memoir has been widely discussed in book clubs, educational settings, and media outlets, raising awareness and understanding of these important issues.

Legacy

Jeannette Walls’ legacy lies in her powerful storytelling and the impact her work has had on readers around the world. Here are some aspects that contribute to her lasting legacy:

• Inspiring Resilience: Through her memoir “The Glass Castle” and her personal journey, Walls has become a symbol of resilience and strength. Her ability to overcome challenging circumstances and find success despite her upbringing has inspired countless individuals facing adversity.
• Heightening Awareness: Walls’ candid portrayal of poverty, addiction, and mental health issues in her memoir has helped raise awareness and understanding of these important social issues. Her storytelling has humanized these experiences and sparked conversations about the effects of such challenges on individuals and families.
• Promoting Empathy and Understanding: Walls’ writing fosters empathy by providing readers with a window into her experiences. Her memoir encourages understanding and compassion toward those who have faced hardship, encouraging readers to challenge stereotypes and judgments.
• Advocating Education: Walls’ emphasis on the power of education as a means of breaking cycles of poverty and achieving personal growth has resonated with many. Her work serves as a reminder of the transformative potential of education and the importance of providing opportunities to all individuals.
• Literary Influence: Walls’ memoir has had a significant impact on the genre of memoir writing, inspiring other authors to share their own stories of resilience and personal growth. Her honest and compelling storytelling style continues to influence and shape the way memoirs are written and received.
• Personal Inspiration: Walls’ journey and success story serve as a personal inspiration to individuals facing adversity. Her legacy is in the lives she has touched and the hope she has instilled in others to overcome obstacles and strive for a better future.

Hobbies and Interests

• Reading: Given Walls’ background as a writer, it is likely that she has a passion for reading. Reading allows individuals to explore different worlds, gain knowledge, and find inspiration.
• Writing: As an accomplished author, Walls may continue to engage in writing as a personal hobby or creative outlet. She might explore various forms of writing, such as journaling, short stories, or even working on new books.
• Travel: Walls’ nomadic childhood and her exposure to various places and cultures may have instilled in her a love for travel. Exploring new destinations, experiencing different cultures, and expanding her horizons through travel could be among her interests.
• Nature and Outdoor Activities: Enjoying the outdoors, hiking, camping, or simply spending time in nature may be activities that Walls finds solace in and enjoys. Immersing herself in natural environments can provide a sense of tranquility and inspiration.
• Social Causes: Given the themes in her memoir and her commitment to making a positive impact, Walls may be involved in social causes and philanthropic work. Supporting organizations or initiatives that align with her values and beliefs could be an interest she actively pursues.

Personal Beliefs

• Resilience and Perseverance: Walls’ personal journey and her memoir “The Glass Castle” highlight the importance of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity. Her belief in the human capacity to overcome challenges and find strength in difficult circumstances is a central theme in her writing.
• Empathy and Understanding: Walls’ work encourages empathy and understanding towards others, especially those who have faced adversity. Her memoir offers a compassionate perspective on the complexities of family relationships, poverty, and mental health, promoting a greater understanding of the human experience.
• Importance of Education: Walls emphasizes the transformative power of education in breaking cycles of poverty and achieving personal growth. Her belief in the importance of education as a means to expand opportunities and change lives is evident throughout her work.
• Personal Responsibility: Walls’ memoir highlights the importance of personal responsibility in shaping one’s own destiny. While acknowledging the impact of external circumstances, she emphasizes the role of personal choices and actions in overcoming obstacles and creating a better future.
• Individualism and Self-Expression: Walls’ unconventional upbringing and her ability to forge her own path reflect a belief in individualism and the power of self-expression. Her memoir celebrates the uniqueness of each individual and the capacity to shape one’s own identity and destiny.

Quotes

Final Thoughts

Jeannette Walls’ life and work have left a lasting impact on readers around the world. Through her memoir “The Glass Castle” and her subsequent writing, Walls has shared her personal journey with honesty, vulnerability, and resilience, touching the hearts of many.

Conclusion

Jeannette Walls is a living example of the power of the human spirit. She has overcome many challenges in her life, but she has never given up on her dreams. She is an inspiration to us all.

Frequently Asked Questions About Jeannette Walls

Jeannette Walls Contacts

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