Barbara Kingsolver’s books of fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction are widely translated and have won numerous literary awards. She is the founder of the PEN/Bellwether Prize, and in 2000 was awarded the National Humanities Medal, the country’s highest honor for service through the arts. Prior to her writing career, she studied and worked as a biologist. Born in Annapolis and raised in rural Kentucky, she lived with her parents in the Congo during her early years. “The Poisonwood Bible,” one of her best-known books, is the story of a missionary family in the Congo. “Unsheltered” is her new novel (HarperCollins).