Brain Snacks: Tasty Tidbits of Knowledge
Octavia Butler was dyslexic. But like many driven people, she never let that keep her from becoming obsessed with books and writing. (Source)
Butler probably took some of the inspiration for the slavery in Kindred from her mother, who spent most of her life working as a black maid for rich white people. Back in those days, her mother wouldn't have been legally allowed to vote, either. (Source)
In 1995, Octavia Butler won a McArthur "Genius" Grant. It sounds impressive… because it is. (Source)