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Marjorie Phleger's bio from the 2009 Special Illustrated Edition of 'Pilot Down, Presumed Dead' by Adventure Books of Seattle:

'Marjorie Temple Phleger was born in August of 1907 and was from Glendale, California. She received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California, where she and her future husband Fred Phleger met. They were married in 1933. She went on to receive a master’s degree in theater arts from Smith College in 1948.

Fred Phleger was a renowned oceanographer who worked for many years at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego.

Before she started writing, Marjorie Phleger taught drama at the Bishop School and later became public relations head of the La Valencia Hotel.

While working at the La Valencia, she met many actors and writers, including Clark Gable and Tennessee Williams. She was a columnist for both the San Diego Union and the La Jolla Light. She was also a founder of the original La Jolla Playhouse.

The Phlegers became acquainted with Ted Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’) and his wife Helen in the early 1950’s. Geisel encouraged the Phlegers to write and introduced them to the editors of Beginner Books at Random House. Her first novel was Pilot Down, Presumed Dead. Since its initial release, it continues to appear on hundreds of recommended reading lists and has been published under several different imprints.

She and her husband combined talents in 1966 with two other books, You Will Live Under the Sea and Off to the Races.

The Phlegers have two children, Charles F. ‘Rick’ Phleger and Audrey (Phleger) Levonas.

Marjorie Phleger died in February 1986 at the age of 78.'

Marjorie Phleger's bio from the 2009 Special Illustrated Edition of 'Pilot Down, Presumed Dead' by Adventure Books of Seattle: 'Marjorie Temple Phleger was born in August of 1907 and was from Glendale, California. She received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California, where she and her future husband Fred Phleger met. They were married in 1933. She went on to receive a mas... More