Laura Hillenbrand (1967-) is an American author and essayist. She's written two books, both nonfiction. Seabiscuit: An American Legend (2001) is an account of the thoroughbred that became an unlikely champion racehorse, capturing the hearts of Americans. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption (2010) is a biography of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner and World War II prisoner of war. She became ill when she was 19 and has suffered from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome since. In 2004, she and actor Gary Sinise founded Operation Iraqi Children, a charitable organization that sends school supplies to Iraqi children.