Rosellen Brown  Rosellen Brown (born May 12, 1939) is an American author, and has been an instructor of English and creative writing at several universities, including the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the University of Houston. She has won several grants and awards for her work, including the Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize. The 1996 film "Before and After" was adapted from her novel of the same name. Brown was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She received a bachelor of arts degree from Barnard College in 1960 and Brandeis University. Half A Heart: Based on Rosellen Brown's book of the same name which traces the lives of several people who participated in the civil rights movement and continue to live in its shadow.