Great Stories about Great Storytellers
GREAT STORIES about GREAT STORYTELLERS shares insights into storytellers whose names you no doubt recognize—names like Edgar Allen Poe, Steven Spielberg John Grisham and Walt Disney—but reveals the backstories you probably never heard about them. The podcast features different kinds of storytellers—authors, directors, playwrights and even a poet or two. In short 10-15 minutes episodes, this fun and sometimes funny podcast features anecdotes and tidbits about storytellers, with each episode spotlighting a modern storyteller like Tom Clancy or a classical name like Charles Dickens, but in a very different light.
Episodes
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 readership of many other authors
- how the the...
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 backstories you never knew about t...
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 her personal life led to her creatin...
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 Connelly novels have achieved
C...
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 storytellers, he had to overcome dramatic chal...
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
Check out the backstories you neve...
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 stereotypical author and scholar,
Check...
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 storytellers you love!
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 the backstories you never knew a...
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 backstories you never knew about the s...
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 storytellers you love!
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 the world of intellectual property ...
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 the storytellers you love!
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 never knew about the storytell...
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 name made television history
Chec...
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 love!
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 cancelled to the most successful pro...
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