Norma Fox Mazer 1931–

American novelist and short story writer.

In her fiction, Mazer presents people of all ages, socioeconomic classes, and family backgrounds grappling with common dilemmas and emotional conflicts. She strives to give her readers an accurate representation of the world in which they live, but her view is neither bleakly pessimistic nor unduly optimistic. Mazer's stance is one of confident humanism, which is reflected in her characters' heightened awareness and control over their lives.

In her early novel, A Figure of Speech, which won the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award in 1973, Mazer portrays an adolescent girl's sympathy and respect for her grandfather's desire to preserve his independence and dignity. Mazer has been especially praised for her short stories. Dear Bill, Remember Me? and Summer Girls, Love Boys, and Other Short Stories are both considered outstanding collections.

(See also Contemporary Authors, Vols. 69-72 and Something about the Author, Vol. 24.)