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 l...

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 k...

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 a...

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 y...

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!