Kryza, Frank T. 1950–

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Kryza, Frank T. 1950–

PERSONAL: Born February 18, 1950, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Education: Received certificate from Cambridge University, 1968; Yale University, A.B., 1972, M.P.P.M., 1982.

ADDRESSES: Home—4227 N. Capistrano Dr., Dallas, TX 75287-4002; fax: 972-267-4192. Agent—Christy Fletcher, Fletcher & Parry, LLC, 78 5th Ave., New York, NY 10011. E-mai[email protected].

CAREER: Writer and journalist. New Haven Journal Courier, New Haven, CT, staff reporter, 1972–73; Plainville News, Southington, CT, editor, 1974–75; Hospice, Inc., New Haven, director of public information, 1975–77; Big Brothers/Big Sisters of South Central Connecticut, Inc., New Haven, executive director, 1977–79; ARCO International Oil and Gas Company, financial consultant, 1982–86, senior planning advisor, 1986–88, finance manager, 1988–92, director of international relations and external affairs, 1992–97.

WRITINGS:

The Power of Light: The Epic Story of Man's Quest to Harness the Sun, McGraw-Hill (New York, NY), 2003.

The Race for Timbuktu: In Search of Africa's City of Gold, Ecco (New York, NY), 2006.

SIDELIGHTS: Frank T. Kryza has worked in the energy industry for over twenty years. This experience resulted in his first book, The Power of Light: The Epic Story of Man's Quest to Harness the Sun. His second book, The Race for Timbuktu: In Search of Africa's City of Gold, which was considered "more entertaining" by Robert Speer in the San Francisco Chronicle, combines the experience of eleven years of traveling in Africa. For this book Kryza followed the footsteps of several European explorers in their attempts—some successful, but all tragic—to find the legendary city of Timbuktu.

Several reviewers praised The Race for Timbuktu and its thoroughly encompassing research. George Cohen, for example, wrote in Booklist that the narration is "electrifying," while Library Journal contributor James Thorsen labeled it a "highly readable … excellent book." Although a Publishers Weekly reviewer felt that the book "starts slowly," the critic added that once the explorers' tales begin "readers will be eager to find out their fates."

Kryza told CA: "I have always enjoyed writing and have kept a journal most of my life. I especially enjoyed working on the Yale Daily News as an undergraduate, and I think newspaper work has shaped how I write."