Alephonsion Deng
{{short description|South Sudanese author and speaker (born 1982)}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Alephonsion Deng
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| birth_date = {{circa|1982}}
| birth_place = Bahr el Ghazal, Sudan
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| occupation = Author, speaker, actor
| nationality = South Sudanese
| period = 2001–present
| genre = non-fiction, historical, autobiographical
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| notableworks = They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky: The True Story of Three Lost Boys of Sudan
Disturbed In Their Nests
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| website = {{URL|theypouredfirebooks.com}}
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Alephonsion Deng (c. 1982 - ) is a South Sudanese author and speaker.[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4698532 'Lost Boys of Sudan' Finally Find a Home], Talk of the Nation, NPR, June 13, 2005. Interview with Alephonsion Deng. He is best known as the co-author of the book They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky: The True Story of Three Lost Boys of Sudan, along with his brother Benson, cousin Benjamin and American author Judy A. Bernstein.
In 1999 the Federal government of the United States welcomed Alephonsion as one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. His first job was at Ralph's Grocery Store where he worked for nine months. An opportunity came up to be in a Russell Crowe movie hence he spent six months on the Fox Studios set in Rosarito, Mexico where he learned to sail a tall ship, fire a cannon and sword fight. He has spoken to over 100 schools such as Queens College in Nassau, Bahamas, universities, clubs and organizations about his extraordinary story of survival in Africa, adapting to his life in the United States and his hope for peace in the world.
In 2006, Alephonsion made his stage debut in the lead role of Ater in a Mo'olelo production of Mia McCullough's drama Since Africa at San Diego's Diversionary Theatre and now appears in Across Worlds www.WayOfAdventure.org and speaks at schools around the country.
Awards
The two titles Deng has co-written have been the recipient of numerous awards.
They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky: The True Story of Three Lost Boys of Sudan:
- Christopher Award Winner for Adult Books{{cite web|title=Christopher Awards Past Winners|url=https://www.christophers.org/pastawardwinners|website=The Christopher Awards|accessdate=28 March 2020}}
- The Washington Post Top 100 Books of 2005{{cite web|title=The best books of 2005, brought to you by our extraordinarily diverse band of reviewers.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/entertainment/books/2005/12/04/the-best-books-of-2005-brought-to-you-by-our-extraordinarily-diverse-band-of-reviewers/ae3bcd9f-b506-446e-994b-e4d5066403e2/|website=The Washington Post|accessdate=28 March 2020}}
- American Library Association "Many Voices" Honoree{{cite web|title=American Library Association "Many Voices" Honoree|url=http://www.ala.org/aboutala/sites/ala.org.aboutala/files/content/diversity/MVON_Program_2005.pdf|website=American Library Association|accessdate=28 March 2020}}
- Los Angeles Times Bestseller July 2005.{{cite web|title=Exodus of the Lost Boys of Sudan|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-jun-13-et-book13-story.html|website=The Los Angeles Times|accessdate=28 March 2020}}
- American Booksellers Association Book Sense Selection May 2005.{{cite web|title=The June 2005 Book Sense Picks and Notables Preview|url=https://www.bookweb.org/news/june-2005-book-sense-picks-and-notables-preview|website=American Booksellers Association|accessdate=28 March 2020}}
- National Conflict Resolution Center Peacemakers Award {{cite web|title="Days of Dialogue/Peacemaker Awards" Set for March 20-24, 2006|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20060118005982/en/Days-DialoguePeacemaker-Awards-Set-March-20-24-2006|website=Business Wire|accessdate=28 March 2020}}
- Book Sense Summer 2006 Paperback Selection{{cite web|title=Summer 2006 Book Sense Paperback Picks|url=https://www.bookweb.org/news/summer-2006-book-sense-paperback-picks|website=American Booksellers Association|accessdate=28 March 2020}}
- American Library Association List - Becoming an American{{cite web|title=They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky: The True Story of Three Lost Boys from Sudan.|url=https://www.booklistonline.com/They-Poured-Fire-on-Us-from-the-Sky-The-True-Story-of-Three-Lost-Boys-from-Sudan-Alephonsion-Deng/pid=316291|website=Booklist Online: Book Reviews from the American Library Association|accessdate=28 March 2020}}
- San Diego Union Tribune Warwick's Top Seller September 2015 (10th Anniversary Edition){{cite web|title=ALEPHONSION AND BENSON DENG WITH JUDY BERNSTEIN - "THEY POURED FIRE ON US FROM THE SKY|url=https://www.warwicks.com/event/they-poured-fire|website=Warwicks Books|accessdate=28 March 2020}}
- 2018 Nautilus Gold Award winner, in the category of Multicultural and Indigenous Books{{cite web|title=2018 NAUTILUS GRAND & GOLD WINNERS|url=http://nautilusbookawards.com/2018-grandgold-winners/|website=Nautilus Book Awards|accessdate=28 March 2020}}
External links
- [http://theypouredfirebooks.com/author Author autobiography]
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References
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Category:South Sudanese writers
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