William Least Heat Moon is a brilliant and acclaimed American author, best known for his travelogues and non-fiction works that take readers on a journey across the country, exploring the diverse cultures, landscapes, and histories that make up the United States.

Born in 1939 in Kansas City, Missouri, William Least Heat Moon is a graduate of the University of Missouri, where he earned a bachelor's degree in English, and a master's degree in photojournalism. After college, he worked as a teacher, a construction worker, and a newspaper reporter. In the mid-70s, he set out on an epic road trip across America in a van he named Ghost Dancing, which became the inspiration for his bestselling travelogue, Blue Highways.

Published in 1982, Blue Highways is a landmark work of American literature that chronicles Heat Moon’s journey across the country, taking back roads and meeting the people who call them home. The book became an instant classic, praised for its insightful observations, vivid descriptions, and Heat Moon's unique voice, which combines humor, history, and cultural analysis.

Since then, Heat Moon has continued to write perceptive and inspiring non-fiction works, including River-Horse (1999), which follows his travels across the country’s waterways, PrairyErth (1991), which explores the history and geology of Chase County, Kansas, and Celestial Mechanics (2014), which examines the human relationship with the night sky.

Throughout his career, William Least Heat Moon has received numerous accolades and awards for his contributions to American literature, including the John Burroughs Medal, the Society of Midland Authors Award, and the William Dean Howells Medal from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. His works have been translated into multiple languages, and he has been a featured speaker at literary events and universities around the world.

Whether he is exploring the back roads of America or contemplating the mysteries of the cosmos, William Least Heat Moon is a master storyteller with a unique ability to capture the essence of the American experience. His works continue to inspire and delight readers of all ages and backgrounds, and his legacy as one of the great literary voices of our time is assured.