Great Stories about Great Storytellers

In this episode, you'll learn-- the struggles Paine went through before he found "his voice" the critical way Benjamin Franklin intervened to send Paine to America how Paine's writings persuaded the common man to the ideas of liberty and freedom how, despite Paine's tremendous influence on the Revolution, his life ended in absurdity and infamy Check out the backstories you...

In this episode, you'll learn how Isaac as young man struggled to achieve in academics because of discrimination against Jews how Isaac, while working in his parents' stores, devoured pulp science fiction magazines to learn his "trade" how Asimov became one of the most prolific America writers, publishing and editing more 500 books How Asimov won about every award given out for...

In this episode, you'll learn-- how Patricia went from a BA in English to an award-winning journalist in two years the remarkable learning journey Cornwell took to become schooled in forensics the long string of awards her writing has amassed as well as the tremendous success of her books with readers the surprising origin story of Patricia as a writer Check out the backstories you never knew...

In this 50th episode, you'll learn-- how Nevada Barr began her working career as an actress of moderate success the unusual way Nevada became interested in the outdoors and specifically the national parks how Nevada remained committed to writing even though any success was slow in coming how Nevada Barr broke new ground in the mystery writing genre by moving her sleuth, park ranger Anna Pigeo...

In thia episode, you'll learn-- how Louise Penny battled loneliness, alcoholism and isolation and turned her experiences into creating great cozy mysteries how Louise Penny struggled with her writing for years before producing her first novel  Still Life\ how Penny's Three Pines series have become one of the most successful and recognized cozy mystery series in the world Check out the ba...

In this episode, you'll learn-- how James Cameron went from school janitor to movie director how Cameron struggled and sacrificed to learn the ropes of movie making how Cameron was willing to do almost anything--even putting his life at risk--to make his movies how Cameron often gave up personal gain to achieve his storytelling vision and still became one of the richest men in Hollywood Check...

Check out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode, you'll learn-- how Baum was destined to be a writer from his teens, thanks to gifts from his father how Baum had feet and success in both the literary and drama world how his Wizard of Oz series were the top children books of the time how Baum, in his own writing, predicted several technology inventions Check out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode, you'll learn-- how Bram Stoker became the #1 bestselling Gothic horror author How Bram came to meet and befriend famous figures of the era including Sir Author Conan Doyle and Oscar Wilde what inspired Stoker to write such an original, haunting tale of evil how Stoker died never knowing the popularity his work would eventually bring. Check out the backstories you never knew a...

In this episode, you'll learn-- how Robert Ludlum went the route of the theater to learn the essentials of great storytelling how Ludlum learned to combine conspiracy theories, globe trotting spies and high stakes adventure how his characters have been so popular other authors have written even more novels with Ludlum's characters how Ludlum approached his writing to create such twisty c...

In this episode, you'll learn-- how Gabaldon went from scientist and computer expert to bestselling author of both a series of novels and the streaming series they spawned how she was among the first authors to combine historical adventure, suspense, mystery, science fiction and fantasy and romance with incredible success how the book sales and the viewers of the TV series dwarf the readershi...

In this episode you will learn-- the tragic and still remarkable life Maya Angelou lived how her life's journey took her to three continents and six languages the several firsts that Maya accomplished in her life how her life intersected with famous civil rights legends...with tragic results how she became the rare storyteller who succeeded as an author, a poet and a director Check out the ba...

In this episode, you'll discover-- how Sue Grafton's childhood shaped her perspective on family as evidenced in her novels how Grafton's early attempts at novels met with little success how the author honed her storytelling skills writing screenplays for TV movies how her Alphabet series earned an array of awards and worldwide success how the frustration and ugliness of an event in...

In this episode, you'll learn-- how Michael Connelly inherited his love of mystery novels from his own mother how the detective stories of Raymond Chandler played a pivotal role in Connelly's path to become a bestselling author of detective stories how a little known event in his youth foreshadowed Connelly's interest in police work of the incredible commercial and critical success...

In this episode, you'll discover-- how Sir Ridley Scott went from advertising mogul to major movie director how even though he ranks among the top grossing directors of all time, he had to wait half his life for his chance to direct a his first major motion picture how so many of his films, which were not appreciated initially, became cult and fan favorites how. like so many great storyteller...

In this episode you'll learn-- how Clive Cussler turned his love of the sea into best-selling, action-adventure novels how Cussler went from writing award winning ads to bestselling thrillers how Cussler managed "the willing suspension of disbelief" of readers at a level matched by few authors how Cussler's real life adventures were nearly as momentous as his fictional ones Che...

In this episode, you'll learn-- how the origin story of the most successful romance writer of all time how Roberts came to author fiction under four different names how Roberts has managed to write and publish more bestsellers than any other author The secret behind Roberts prodigious output of fiction. Check out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode, you learn-- how the early tragedies, triumphs and experiences of his young life inspired his fantasy tales  the unlikely path Tolkien's invented story for his children took to become a bestseller with more than 100 million copies how it took Tolkien almost two decades to develop, research, write and publish  Lord of the Rings how the real Tolkien is not much like the stereoty...

In this episode, you will learn-- how Dr. Seuss went from commercial artist to the most famous author of early reading books in America how the narrative of the Grinch captures the sense of Christmas for both kids and adults where the inspiration for the Grinch came from some of the incredible awards Dr. Seuss has won and those he hasn't Check out the backstories you never knew about the stor...

In this episode, you'll learn-- How Dick Francis excelled as a British jockey and horseman How he used this novel to create a sub genre of thrillers and mysteries How his writing awards include the only author to win the "Edgar" for mystery of the year, three different times How Dick Francis accomplished in his writing something no other bestselling author has ever done. Check out t...

In this episode, you'll discover-- Mary Shelley's unique upbringing as the daughter of two famous and controversial figures Mary's unusual courtship and marriage to to the Romantic poet, Percy Bysshe Shelley the incredible popularity of a monster invented by a 17-year-old girl, long beyond the book the tortured childhood that led Mary to envision such a monster Check out the backsto...

In this episode, you'll discover-- how Ms. Clark knew she was a writer from the age of 6 how she honed her craft writing advertising copy and radio shows how her first novel was a flop but she persevered how she had to overcome personal and family tragedies and use these experiences to fuel her writing Check out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode, listeners will learn'' how Anne was able to chronicle the Frank's family challenges as representative of the horrors of the Holocaust how Anne Frank aspired to become a journalist after the war and how this fueled her writing how the incredible popularity of her diary has led to some world-wide controversies. Check out the backstories you never knew about the storyt...

In this episode you'll learn-- how a corporate downsizing gave birth to one of the premier thriller writers of today how Child has created the larger than life character of Jack Reacher the strange process Child uses to write his best selling novels Check out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In the episode, you'll learn-- how Beatrix Potter became one of the leading amateur scientists of her day how her love of animals led to her artistic rendering of these small creatures in her works how she came to writer "tiny" children's books which have rolled up sales to rival some of the biggest selling authors how her business savvy put her years ahead of other writers in...