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 Americahow Paine's writings persuaded the common man to the ideas of liberty and freedomhow, despite Paine's tremendous influence on the Revolution, his life ended in absurdity and infamyCheck out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode, you'll learnhow Isaac as young man struggled to achieve in academics because of discrimination against Jewshow 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 booksHow Asimov won about every award given out for his genresHow Asimov, the person, was a direct contradiction of Asimov, the writerCheck out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode, you'll learn--how Patricia went from a BA in English to an award-winning journalist in two yearsthe remarkable learning journey Cornwell took to become schooled in forensicsthe long string of awards her writing has amassed as well as the tremendous success of her books with readersthe surprising origin story of Patricia as a writerCheck out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this 50th episode, you'll learn--how Nevada Barr began her working career as an actress of moderate successthe unusual way Nevada became interested in the outdoors and specifically the national parkshow Nevada remained committed to writing even though any success was slow in cominghow Nevada Barr broke new ground in the mystery writing genre by moving her sleuth, park ranger Anna Pigeon to a new park for each entryCheck out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In thia episode, you'll learn--how Louise Penny battled loneliness, alcoholism and isolation and turned her experiences into creating great cozy mysterieshow 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 worldCheck out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode, you'll learn--how James Cameron went from school janitor to movie directorhow Cameron struggled and sacrificed to learn the ropes of movie makinghow Cameron was willing to do almost anything--even putting his life at risk--to make his movieshow Cameron often gave up personal gain to achieve his storytelling vision and still became one of the richest men in HollywoodCheck out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

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 fatherhow Baum had feet and success in both the literary and drama worldhow his Wizard of Oz series were the top children books of the timehow Baum, in his own writing, predicted several technology inventionsCheck 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 authorHow Bram came to meet and befriend famous figures of the era including Sir Author Conan Doyle and Oscar Wildewhat inspired Stoker to write such an original, haunting tale of evilhow Stoker died never knowing the popularity his work would eventually bring.Check out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode, you'll learn--how Robert Ludlum went the route of the theater to learn the essentials of great storytellinghow Ludlum learned to combine conspiracy theories, globe trotting spies and high stakes adventurehow his characters have been so popular other authors have written even more novels with Ludlum's charactershow Ludlum approached his writing to create such twisty captivating thrillersCheck out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

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 spawnedhow she was among the first authors to combine historical adventure, suspense, mystery, science fiction and fantasy and romance with incredible successhow the book sales and the viewers of the TV series dwarf the readership of many other authorshow the the books (and the streaming series) occurred almost by accident, or at least on a whim.Check out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode you will learn--the tragic and still remarkable life Maya Angelou livedhow her life's journey took her to three continents and six languagesthe several firsts that Maya accomplished in her lifehow her life intersected with famous civil rights legends...with tragic resultshow she became the rare storyteller who succeeded as an author, a poet and a directorCheck out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode, you'll discover--how Sue Grafton's childhood shaped her perspective on family as evidenced in her novelshow Grafton's early attempts at novels met with little successhow the author honed her storytelling skills writing screenplays for TV movieshow her Alphabet series earned an array of awards and worldwide successhow the frustration and ugliness of an event in her personal life led to her creating the plot of the first few Alphabet novelsCheck out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode, you'll learn--how Michael Connelly inherited his love of mystery novels from his own motherhow the detective stories of Raymond Chandler played a pivotal role in Connelly's path to become a bestselling author of detective storieshow a little known event in his youth foreshadowed Connelly's interest in police workof the incredible commercial and critical success Connelly novels have achievedCheck out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode, you'll discover--how Sir Ridley Scott went from advertising mogul to major movie directorhow 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 picturehow so many of his films, which were not appreciated initially, became cult and fan favoriteshow. like so many great storytellers, he had to overcome dramatic challenges to accomplish successCheck out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode you'll learn--how Clive Cussler turned his love of the sea into best-selling, action-adventure novelshow Cussler went from writing award winning ads to bestselling thrillershow Cussler managed "the willing suspension of disbelief" of readers at a level matched by few authorshow Cussler's real life adventures were nearly as momentous as his fictional onesCheck out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode, you'll learn--how the origin story of the most successful romance writer of all timehow Roberts came to author fiction under four different nameshow Roberts has managed to write and publish more bestsellers than any other authorThe 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 copieshow it took Tolkien almost two decades to develop, research, write and publish Lord of the Ringshow the real Tolkien is not much like the stereotypical author and scholar, Check out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode, you will learn--how Dr. Seuss went from commercial artist to the most famous author of early reading books in Americahow the narrative of the Grinch captures the sense of Christmas for both kids and adultswhere the inspiration for the Grinch came fromsome of the incredible awards Dr. Seuss has won and those he hasn'tCheck out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode, you'll learn--How Dick Francis excelled as a British jockey and horsemanHow he used this novel to create a sub genre of thrillers and mysteriesHow his writing awards include the only author to win the "Edgar" for mystery of the year, three different timesHow Dick Francis accomplished in his writing something no other bestselling author has ever done.Check out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode, you'll discover--Mary Shelley's unique upbringing as the daughter of two famous and controversial figuresMary's unusual courtship and marriage to to the Romantic poet, Percy Bysshe Shelleythe incredible popularity of a monster invented by a 17-year-old girl, long beyond the bookthe tortured childhood that led Mary to envision such a monsterCheck out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode, you'll discover--how Ms. Clark knew she was a writer from the age of 6how she honed her craft writing advertising copy and radio showshow her first novel was a flop but she perseveredhow she had to overcome personal and family tragedies and use these experiences to fuel her writingCheck 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 Holocausthow Anne Frank aspired to become a journalist after the war and how this fueled her writinghow the incredible popularity of her diary has led to some world-wide controversies.Check out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode you'll learn--how a corporate downsizing gave birth to one of the premier thriller writers of todayhow Child has created the larger than life character of Jack Reacherthe strange process Child uses to write his best selling novelsCheck 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 dayhow her love of animals led to her artistic rendering of these small creatures in her workshow she came to writer "tiny" children's books which have rolled up sales to rival some of the biggest selling authorshow her business savvy put her years ahead of other writers in the world of intellectual property rightsCheck out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode, you will learn--how Stephen King went from high school English teacher to best selling authorhow Carrie,  his first horror novel and bestseller, almost ended in the landfillhow King  earned the record for most literary works picked up as film and TV projects5 things you probably never knew about the "King of Horror"Check out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode, you'll learn--how James Patterson became the best selling author of the past two centurieshow Patterson collaborated with fellow authors to produce more than 100 titleshow Patterson used his experience as an advertising executive to inform his marketing efforts for his bookshow it took Patterson 17 years of writing to reach commercial successCheck out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode, listeners will learn--How Alex Haley learned the craft of writing in the Coast GuardHow Haley became the preeminent interviewer of famous African Americans and other celebritiesHow his first book, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, made publishing history and made Haley a household nameHow his family story, Roots, won awards and set sales recordsHow the mini series of the same name made television historyCheck out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

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 UShow he had to persevere through personal struggles including being investigated by the FBICheck out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode you'll learnhow Gene Roddenberry went from LAPD cop to TV screenwriterhow Roddenberry progressed from writing episodes on successful Westerns and cop series to imagining the most successful sci-fi concept of all timehow Star Trek had a rough time getting launched and almost died after three yearsabout the remarkable journey Roddenberry and Star Trek took going from being cancelled to the most successful property owned by ParamountCheck out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode, you'll learn--how O Henry wrote got some of his earliest stories from prisonhow "The Gift of the Magi" is one of the most copied Christmas stories of all timehow 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 authorhow Parker created four bestselling series of crime novelshow 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 novelthe process he used to produce such a remarkable number of quality, successful novelsCheck out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode you'll learn==how Alfred Hitchcock went from a  quiet and  unassuming young man to the master of suspense and horror filmshow Hitchcock went from director in the UK to the top director of suspense in the UShow Hitchcock transitioned into TV with his successful "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" serieswhere his uncanny ability to create eerie suspense on the screen came fromCheck out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In the episode, you'll learnHow Anne Perry rose from a sickly and troubled youth to one of the most prolific writers of best-selling mysteries and thrillersHow Anne Perry waited decades before her first novel found an agent, a publisher and an audienceHow Perry infused her novels with an unparalleled understanding of historical research How Perry, like your host, used her writing to broach important social issues.Check out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode, you'll hearhow Mark Twain used other pen names before settling on Mark Twainhow Twain was interested in science but didn't make good choices on technology investmentshow Twain went into publishing with results he never anticipatedhow Twain draws his humor and wit for writing and speakingCheck 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 bookshow Shel did early work for Playboy magazine and became a favorite of Huff Heffner and several Playboy bunnieshow Silverstein also achieved breakthrough success in the music worldhow Silverstein even conquered Broadway and TV with his storytelling abilitiesCheck out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode, you will learn--how J K Rowling broke every sales record for books in Englishhow JK Rowling's first novel was rejected by publisher after publisherhow J K Rowling became the first female billionaire novelistabout 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 plotshow his failed music career led him to writinghow he struggled with his early bookshow he turned his fascination with puzzles and conspiracy theories into blockbuster novelshow he uses some VERY unusual writing habits to achieve success Check out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode, listeners will learnhow Ernest Hemingway became one of the preeminent American authors of the last centuryhow he lived a life of adventure and adrenalin which is reflected in his writinghow he was also affected by tragedy, near-death experiences and stalking by the FBICheck 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'smade 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 fictionuses his commitment to doing research to make his writings come alive with authentic detailsCheck out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode, you'll learn--how Emily Dickinson defied society, family and friends to become a preeminent American poethow Dickinson battled agoraphobia, depression and a serious eye ailment to write hundreds of poems with evocative language and inspirational themeshow her family  discovered a treasure trove of Dickinson's  poems after she passedCheck out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode you'll learn--how Ray Bradbury became the pre-eminent sci-fi/fantasy writer of the 20th and 21st centuryhow Bradbury managed to create award winning works in a wide array of genres and formatsthe qualities Bradbury brought to his work which can serve as lessons for all writershow Bradbury's personal life and beliefs did not exactly line up with his futuristic imaginingCheck out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In the episode you'll learn--How Charles Dickens became the pre-eminent British author of the Victorian ageHow Dickens pioneered the serialization technique to reach more readers than everHow A CHRISTMAS CAROL changed the celebration of Christmas in EnglandHow the novella started the concept of giving to those less fortunate at Christmas timeCheck out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

In this episode, you'll learn how Jane Austen became the most copied and earliest writer of chick lithow, 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 fanshow Jane was denied in her own life what she coveted mostCheck 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 tastehow the real espionage experience of Ian Fleming gave life to the fictional spy escapades of James Bondthe secret to how the story and character created in the 1950's have survived and prospered almost seventy years laterCheck out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

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

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

In this episode you'll learnhow Tom Clancy became the top best-selling techno-thriller author in the UShow he went from insurance agent to espionage expertCheck 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 fictionCheck out the backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!

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 backstories you never knew about the storytellers you love!