Ok - going to try this and see how it works.

Hans Christian Anderson - born in Denmark in April 1805. 

Author of some of the most popular fairy tales ever written. From The Emperor's New Clothes to The Princess and the Pea, these were stories we were brought up on. But before becoming the Fable King he was an accomplished playwright and poet. HCA - we thank you.

Washington Irving - born in New York in April 1783.

Irving wrote Rip Van Winkle, one of the first stories I remember being read to me as a youngster. He also wrote The Legend of Sleepy Hollow - which I loved as an older teenager, but I was really introduced to Sleep Hollow by Trixie Beldon (who I adored and wanted so very badly to be). Trixie lived in Sleepyside-on-Hudson, which is a mash-up of Sleepy Hollow and Sunnyside (Irving's home). Happy birthday to you Washington Irving and my heart-felt thanks for your stories.

Joseph Pulitzer - born in Hungary in April 1847.

Joseph Pulitzer started off his working life as a soldier, but this was short-lived due to bad health and poor eyesight. He became a journalist and, at the age of 25, was given the opportunity to buy the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He changed this newspaper around and it was soon filled with real news stories. Reports of corruption in government, tax evasion and the type of investigative reporting we see daily now. He later come to own The New York World which he grew to a circulation of over 600,000 - at the time the largest newspaper in the country. Joseph Pulitzer - you were a visionary.

William Shakespeare - born in England in April 1564

William Shakespeare - the original, the ground breaker, the one who broke all the rules. Our life is richer because of you.