Trivia

Some of his work derives from his own nightmares.

Is a huge fan of the TV series 'Supernatural'.

His family is Jewish (from Poland and Latvia). His last name is properly pronounced "gay-mun," not "guy-mun," as he says people often mispronounce it. Gaiman explains that it is an Anglicized version. The name was originally spelled "Haiman".

He sued "Spawn" creator Todd McFarlane for violation of copyright and non-payment of royalties in January, 2002. The case went to court in October 2002, when the seven-person federal jury in Wisconsin took three days to decide in favor of Gaiman, agreeing that McFarlane used Gaiman's created characters without permission or compensation. Gaiman was awarded $45,000 plus court costs.

Did not attend college or University.

Babylon 5 (1993) producer J. Michael Straczynski was so impressed with Gaiman's writing, he named an alien race after him, the Gaim, who have a visual similarity to Gaiman's "Sandman" character.

Ray Bradbury's short story Homecoming inspired Gaiman to become an author.

Supports the comic book legal defense fund, an organization that defends the 1st Amendment rights of comic book creators, publishers and retailers.

One of the most haunting tales he's ever read is Sweeney Todd.

Is good friends with Tori Amos, who makes references to him on different songs of hers. He, in addition, has based the character "Foxglove", who appears in his comic books "Sandman" and "Death - the high cost of Living", on her.

Sandman #19 took the 1991 World Fantasy Award for best short story (making it the first comic ever to be awarded a literary award).

The works of the Brothers Grimm are an influence on Gaiman.

His novel The Ocean at the End of the Lane derived from his own childhood experiences.

Has often collaborated with fellow author Terry Pratchett.

He was nearly strangled as a 10-year old when a school bully pulled his tie so tight he had to have the other kids loosen it.

A big fan of author C.S. Lewis. He read the entire Chronicles of Narnia after seeing The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe (1988).

The World Fantasy Awards are given at the World Fantasy Convention and the winners are voted on by all attending members. Neil has won once (1991 in the short fiction category for his comic book arc from Sandman called "A Midsummer Night's Dream). He's been nominated for 6 additional works.

Likes to write on the Isle of Skye.

Gaiman has won the Hugo, Nebula, Bram Stoker, SFX and Locus awards for his writing.

Sandman won him the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards for best writer (1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994), best continuing series (1991, 1992 and 1993), best graphic album-- reprint (1991), and the Best New Graphic Album (1993)

Moved to Menomonie, Wisconsin, with his now ex-wife Mary, two daughters Holly and Maddy, and son Mike.

A huge fan and a close friend of Alan Moore.

A huge fan of science-fiction, and is surprised he never became a SF author himself. He also covered a SF convention for a national newspaper in 1985.

His interest in comic books came after reading some of Alan Moore's work on 'Swamp Thing'.

Is the son of David Bernard Gaiman, who was a Public Relations Director for the Church of Scientology in England (where it is not recognized as a religion) until his death in 2009.

The novel Alice in Wonderland is an influence on Gaiman, e.g. he likens a crescent moon to a grin, like the Cheshire Cat in Gaiman's novel The Ocean at the End of the Lane. His work also seems inspired by the Brothers Grimm.

Son Anthony, with wife Amanda Palmer, born at 8:37 a.m. on September 16, 2015.

January 15, 2010: Announced his engagement to Amanda Palmer, lead singer of The Dresden Dolls.

Lived in the US since 1989.

Parts of his graphic novel Mr Punch are based on true events.

He has won 4 Stoker Awards from the Horror Fiction Writers of America (2003 for Sandman: Endless Nights, 2002 for Coraline, 2001 for American Gods, and 1999 for Sandman: The Dream Hunters). He's been nominated for the Stokers for 4 other works of fiction as well.

Authors William Gibson and Philip Pullman are big fans of Gaiman.

Claims a new addiction to Calamansi Juice, a citrus fruit product of the Philippines, when he enjoyed many bottles of it while on a recent book tour of Asia, spending several days and nights in Manila.

In his novel The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Gaiman has one of the characters say "spit-spot" from Mary Poppins (1964). He's a big fan of the books written by P.L. Travers.

As well as film and TV, his work has been adapted for radio and graphic novels.

A huge fan of Harlan Ellison.

The Hugo Awards are given at the World Science Fiction Convention and the winners are voted on by all attending members. Neil has won 3 Hugos (2004 for the short story "A Study in Emerald", 2003 for Coraline, and 2002 for American Gods).

Married fiancée Amanda Palmer in New Orleans on November 10, 2010.

Works frequently with artist Dave McKean.

Friends with Clive Barker.

In 1992, he moved his family -- wife Mary, son Michael, and daughter Holly Gaiman -- to Minneapolis, Minnesota, from England.

Friend of Lenny Henry.

Interviewed celebrities for Penthouse and Knave, two English magazines in the 1980s. He thought they were tamer than they're US counterparts. He reflected that Penthouse had nothing to do with women and everything to do with pictures of women.

Friends with Gary K. Wolf, Peter Straub, Henry Selick and Cornelia Funke.

When he and Dave McKean collaborated on Mirrormask (2005), McKean did the designs but they worked on the illustrated film script together.

A fan of Ringo Starr.

A huge fan of author Gene Wolfe.

Some of his short stories take years to write and years to be published.

An acclaimed, award-winning author, he's won two national book awards and the Hugo, Nebula and Bram Stoker awards.

His novel The Ocean at the End of the Lane won Book of the Year 2013 at the Specsavers National Book Awards.