In Theda Bara's Tent Tapa blanda - 2010

Diana Altman is the daughter of the late Al Altman, the MGM talent scout who discovered Joan Crawford, Jimmy Stewart, Ava Gardner, Celeste Holm, Franchot Tone, Dean Stockwell and dozens of other unknown actors who became stars. Altman's first book, the non-fiction Hollywood East: Louis B. Mayer and the origins of the studio system (Carol Publishing '92) continues to be quoted if books of film history and movie star biographies. In Theda Bara's Tent feels so authentic because it is based on the research Altman did for her first book and it reflects all that she learned growing up in the movie business. Altman's work has appeared in ForbesWoman, Yankee, New York Times, Boston Herald, American Heritage, StoryQuarterly, Chronicle of the Horse, and many other places. She is the past president of the Boston chapter of the Women's National Book Association and current member of the New York Chapter. She was the first married woman in Massachusetts to retain her maiden name without going to probate court, and was the co-founder of BirthDay, an organization responsible for legalizing midwives in the 1970's. She lives in Manhattan with her husband and can be contacted at www.DianaAltman.com