Born in 1951, New England writer Rodman Philbrick (whose full name, we must assume, is William Rodman Philbrick) divides his time between Maine and Florida. He writes young adult novels under his preferred name, mysteries as W.R. Philbrick, and science-based thrillers as William R. Dantz. The 1998 movie "The Mighty" was loosely based on one of his novels.