Armistead Jones Maupin, Jr., born on May 13, 1944, in Washington, D.C., is a distinguished American writer, best known for his Tales of the City series, set in San Francisco. He grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is an alumnus of the University of North Carolina.

Maupin's career commenced after his tenure as a naval officer in the Mediterranean and with the River Patrol Force in Vietnam. He transitioned into journalism, working as a reporter for a newspaper in Charleston, South Carolina, before moving to the San Francisco bureau of the Associated Press in 1971. In 1976, he launched his groundbreaking Tales of the City serial in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Maupin is celebrated for his contributions to literature, particularly through his nine novels which include the six-volume Tales of the City series, Maybe the Moon, The Night Listener, and Michael Tolliver Lives. His works have been adapted into three miniseries starring Olympi...