vonda neel mcintyre (august 28, 1948 – april 1, 2019) was an american author. she wrote science fiction. her best known novels include "dreamsnake" (1978), "barbary" (1986) and "the moon and the sun" (1997). she also wrote many "star trek" novelizations. she won three nebula awards and a hugo award. robert a. heinlein's 1982 book "friday" was in part dedicated to mcintyre. she was born in louisville, kentucky.