Great Stories about Great Storytellers

In this episode, you will learn-- how Stephen King went from high school English teacher to best selling author how  Carrie,   his first horror novel and bestseller, almost ended in the landfill how King  earned the record for most literary works picked up as film and TV projects 5 things you probably never knew about the "King of Horror" Check out the backstories you never knew about th...

In this episode, you'll learn-- how James Patterson became the best selling author of the past two centuries how Patterson collaborated with fellow authors to produce more than 100 titles how Patterson used his experience as an advertising executive to inform his marketing efforts for his books how it took Patterson 17 years of writing to reach commercial success Check out the backstories you...

In this episode, listeners will learn-- How Alex Haley learned the craft of writing in the Coast Guard How Haley became the preeminent interviewer of famous African Americans and other celebrities How his first book, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, made publishing history and made Haley a household name How his family story, Roots, won awards and set sales records How the mini series of the same n...

IN this episode you'll learn-- how John Steinbeck became one the most respected American authors  how his novels have been recognized as "the Great American Novel" how his work is also some of the most banned books in the US how he had to persevere through personal struggles including being investigated by the FBI Check out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you l...

In this episode you'll learn how Gene Roddenberry went from LAPD cop to TV screenwriter how Roddenberry progressed from writing episodes on successful Westerns and cop series to imagining the most successful sci-fi concept of all time how Star Trek had a rough time getting launched and almost died after three years about the remarkable journey Roddenberry and Star Trek took going from being c...

In this episode, you'll learn-- how O Henry wrote got some of his earliest stories from prison how "The Gift of the Magi" is one of the most copied Christmas stories of all time how O Henry's difficult circumstances led to some inspirational writings  Check out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode  you'll learn-- how Parker went from technical writer to bestselling author how Parker created four bestselling series of crime novels how his novels embraced a wide diversity of characters, well before his time  how he had more than 70 books published in genres ranging from mystery to Westerns to coming-of-age to a YA novel the process he used to produce such a remarkable num...

In this episode you'll learn== how Alfred Hitchcock went from a  quiet and  unassuming young man to the master of suspense and horror films how Hitchcock went from director in the UK to the top director of suspense in the US how Hitchcock transitioned into TV with his successful "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" series where his uncanny ability to create eerie suspense on the screen came...

In the episode, you'll learn How Anne Perry rose from a sickly and troubled youth to one of the most prolific writers of best-selling mysteries and thrillers How Anne Perry waited decades before her first novel found an agent, a publisher and an audience How Perry infused her novels with an unparalleled understanding of historical research  How Perry, like your host, used her writing to broac...

In this episode, you'll hear how Mark Twain used other pen names before settling on Mark Twain how Twain was interested in science but didn't make good choices on technology investments how Twain went into publishing with results he never anticipated how Twain draws his humor and wit for writing and speaking Check out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this interesting episode you'll learn-- how Shel Silverstein's works of poetry beat the sales records of all hardcover books how Shel did early work for Playboy magazine and became a favorite of Huff Heffner and several Playboy bunnies how Silverstein also achieved breakthrough success in the music world how Silverstein even conquered Broadway and TV with his storytelling abilities Ch...

In this episode, you will learn-- how J K Rowling broke every sales record for books in English how JK Rowling's first novel was rejected by publisher after publisher how J K Rowling became the first female billionaire novelist about the traumatic and desperate circumstances she had to endure to get her story told  Check out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In the episode, you'll learn-- how Brown's childhood fascination with puzzles led to his best-selling plots how his failed music career led him to writing how he struggled with his early books how he turned his fascination with puzzles and conspiracy theories into blockbuster novels how he uses some VERY unusual writing habits to achieve success  Check out the backstories you never knew...

In this episode, listeners will learn how Ernest Hemingway became one of the preeminent American authors of the last century how he lived a life of adventure and adrenalin which is reflected in his writing how he was also affected by tragedy, near-death experiences and stalking by the FBI Check out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode, you'll hear how Ken Follett-- became one of the most successful thriller writers in the 80's made a decision to migrate to writing historical fiction, creating some of the best and most successful of the genre  earned awards from multiple countries for his fiction uses his commitment to doing research to make his writings come alive with authentic details Check out the b...

In this episode, you'll learn-- how Emily Dickinson defied society, family and friends to become a preeminent American poet how Dickinson battled agoraphobia, depression and a serious eye ailment to write hundreds of poems with evocative language and inspirational themes how her family  discovered a treasure trove of Dickinson's  poems after she passed Check out the backstories you never...

In this episode you'll learn-- how Ray Bradbury became the pre-eminent sci-fi/fantasy writer of the 20th and 21st century how Bradbury managed to create award winning works in a wide array of genres and formats the qualities Bradbury brought to his work which can serve as lessons for all writers how Bradbury's personal life and beliefs did not exactly line up with his futuristic imaginin...

In the episode you'll learn-- How Charles Dickens became the pre-eminent British author of the Victorian age How Dickens pioneered the serialization technique to reach more readers than ever How A CHRISTMAS CAROL changed the celebration of Christmas in England How the novella started the concept of giving to those less fortunate at Christmas time Check out the backstories you never knew about...

In this episode, you'll learn  how Jane Austen became the most copied and earliest writer of chick lit how, with only four novels to her name, she spawned 1000's of Regency narratives  how Jane Austen has a following that would rival Harry Potter fans how Jane was denied in her own life what she coveted most Check out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

Listeners will hear the real story behind the exploits of the famous Bond, James Bond including-- how the character of Bond reflects Fleming's personality and taste how the real espionage experience of Ian Fleming gave life to the fictional spy escapades of James Bond the secret to how the story and character created in the 1950's have survived and prospered almost seventy years later Ch...

In this episode, listeners will earn the incredible story of Steven Spielberg including— ·      How he became the most successful movie director of all time ·      How he invented the “Summer Blockbuster” ·      His remarkable list of awards and accomplishments ·      And the incredible personal challenges he had to overcome to attain success Check out the backstories you never knew about the stor...

In this episode you'll learn the origins of the most successful writer of all time the many talents and skills Christie cultivated and how they made her fiction possible her story of love and heartbreak and finding love again  AND the real life mystery about Agatha Christie that's never been solved Check out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode you'll learn how Tom Clancy became the top best-selling techno-thriller author in the US how he went from insurance agent to espionage expert Check out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this interesting episode, you’ll learn about Roald Dahl  ·      one of the 20th century most successful writers of children’s fiction  ·      his propensity for pranks as a kid that he turned into award-winning tales ·      his experience as a WWII flying ace and a top British spy ·      his crazy rules for writing successful children’s fiction Check out the backstories you never knew about the...

Edgar Allan Poe is most famous for his macabre tales like "The Pit and the Pendulum" and for inventing the detective story.  In this episode, I'll share a little known anecdote about Poe's softer side. This podcast details a possible connection between the tragedy of Poe's early love affair, a charming southern city and one of his greatest poems, Annabel Lee. Check out the...