In addition to writing over 30 books for children and young adults, Stephen Manes has educated and introduced the public to arcane areas of computer science and personal technologies through his long running tech columns in The New York Times, Forbes, PC World, PC Magazine, and other publications. In 1999, Manes—who was named the nation’s “number one tech pundit”—was one of the creators and co-hosts of the weekly public television series Digital Duo, relaunched in 2005 as PC World’s Digital Duo. It covered the internet, computer hardware and software, and consumer technology in a humorous and insightful way, echoing the style of his novels.

Manes’s ability to work in disparate genres simultaneously is a testament to the breadth of his interests, knowledge, and imagination. While writing books for children that address important issues with humor, such as Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days!, Manes also co-wrote the highly-acclaimed 1992 biography of Bill Gates, Gates: How Microsoft’s Mogul Reinvented an Industry—and Made Himself the Richest Man in America. Manes spent four years writing and researching his 2011 book Where Snowflakes Dance and Swear, embedding himself with the Seatle Pacific Northwest Ballet, which highlights his dedication to his craft. Manes is also likely the first person to write an encyclopedia on paper placemats, the Encyclopedia Placematica (1985).