Author, Author Tips

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Where can I find out more about Orson Scott Card and his books?

Card, Orson Scott

Orson Scott Card, the author of Ender's Game and other popular works of speculative fiction, maintains a very active official site called Hatrack River. Includes the latest news on book and film projects, as well as links to Card's columns on current events.

   
Where can I find information about my favorite author?

Woolf, Virginia

Try "Virginia Woolf: A Literary Life" by John Mepham, or her own autobiographical diary, cleverly titled "The Diary of Virginia Woolf."

To find the former, use this link: A Literary Life

For the Diary, use this one: Diary of Virginia Woolf

Also check out The International Virginia Woolf Society and
Links to Websites About Virginia Woolf

   
Where can I find out more about Philip K. Dick and his books?

Dick, Philip K.

The official site for the late Philip K. Dick, one of science fiction's most beloved authors.

   
Where can I find out more about Harlan Ellison and his writings?

Ellison, Harlan

Harlan Ellison is one of science fiction's less describable institutions. Check out Ellison Webderland for all you need to know about the author of I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream.

   
Where can I find out more about Michael Crichton and his books?

Crichton, Michael

Visit the official site of the prolific author (Timeline, The Andromeda Strain, etc.) and creator of the TV series ER.

   
Where can I find out more about C.J. Cherryh and her books?

Cherryh, C.J.

C.J. Cherryh's Worlds is the official web site of the author of Downbelow Station (Hugo, Best Novel) and other great speculative fiction. News, links, etc.

   
Where can I find out more about Stephen Goldin and his books?

Goldin, Stephen

The official site of Stephen Goldin, author of science fiction classics including The Eternity Brigade and the Family D'Alembert series (based on the work of the immortal E.E. "Doc" Smith)includes information on Goldin's current projects.

   
Where can I find information about Thomas Hardy, the author?

Hardy, Thomas

You will find reviews of several Thomas Hardy books on Bibliomania ... along with the full text of the novel, if you wish to read it. Start with this page: Bibliomania

In addition, here's a good site for general information about Thomas Hardy and his works: T. Hardy

A very thorough reference site for students: Hardy Overview

   
Where can I find out more about Jerry Pournelle and his books?

Pournelle, Jerry

Chaos Manor Musings is the online home of renowned science fiction author and futurist Jerry Pournelle. It is updated daily with commentary and news about Pournelle and the subjects he finds interesting.

   
Where can I find out more about David Gerrold and his books?

Gerrold, David

David Gerrold is the author of the "War Against the Chtorr" series and other popular and absorbing science fiction novels. He's familiar to many readers as the author of "The Trouble with Tribbles," one of the most popular episodes of the television series "Star Trek."
His official site includes information on his previous, current and upcoming projects, as well as commentary and articles.

   
Where can I find out more about Tad Williams and his books?

Williams, Tad

Tad Williams is best known for the "Otherland" saga, a science fiction epic set in a virtual universe. His official site is a fine introduction to his work.

   
Does my favorite author have a website?

Andrews, V.C.

The author best known as V.C. Andrews was born Cleo Virginia Andrews on June 16, 1923, in Portsmouth, Virginia. Her first published book was "Flowers in the Attic," published in 1979, the story of four children held hidden in their grandmother's attic. The series made Andrews virtually a household name, and she had completed four novels about the Dollanganger children before her death from breast cancer on December 19, 1986.

Since Andrews' death, her estate hired Andrew Neiderman to continue writing stories under her name. Neiderman completed the final novel in the Dollanganger series, and has gone on to write some 30 or more additional books published under Andrews' name. Experts consider that there are only 8 books actually written all or in part by Andrews herself.

   
Where can I find out more about Greg Bear and his books?

Bear, Greg

Greg Bear has authored more than 30 books in science fiction and fantasy, winning two Hugos and five Nebulas along the way. He is one of only two authors to win a Nebula in every category. Bear is considered a "hard science fiction" author, and his works have been translated into nineteen languages.




His website is at http://www.gregbear.com/

   
Where can I find out more about L. Neil Smith and his books?

Smith, L. Neil

Libertarian science fiction and political author L. Neil Smith has an official web site that includes information on his books and a comprehensive archive of his political essays and speeches.

   
Where can I find out more about Stephen King and his books?

King, Stephen

He's the best-selling author of all time, and his official site has all the latest news about his books and other projects.

   
Where can I find out more about Marion Zimmer Bradley and her books?

Bradley, Marion Zimmer

Marion Zimmer Bradley (1930-1999) was the author of fantasy novels, including "The Mists of Avalon" and the Darkover series. She was born in Albany, New York, and began writing in 1949. She sold her first story to "Vortex" in 1952. Her first published novel-length worth was "Falcons of Narabedla," published in "Other Worlds" in 1957. She was one of the cofounders of the Society for Creative Anachronism.




Bradley was awarded the World Fantasy Award in 2000 for lifetime achievement.

   
Where can I find out more about Isaac Asimov and his books?

Asimov, Isaac

Isaac Asimov (January 2, 1920 - April 6, 1992)

Born in Russia, Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of modern times. He is known to have written more than 500 books in numerous genres. As a bit of trivia, Asimov's books can be found in nine of the ten major categories of the Dewey Decimal System, missing only in the 100s (philosophy and psychology).

Asimov is most well-known as a science-fiction author, and is considered one of the masters of the genre. His short story "Nightfall" was voted the best science fiction story of all time in 1964 by the Science Fiction Writers of America, and many readers still give the honor to the story. His most famous work is the "Foundation" series. The "Galactic Empire" series and "Robot" series are also international renowned, and actually exist creatively in the same universe, creating a unified "future history" for the three separate sets of work.

Asimov is identified with what is called the Golden Age of Science Fiction, roughly the late 1930s through to the 1950s.

   
Where can I find information about Ian McEwan?

McEwan, Ian

Information on Ian McEwan's novels and short stories, as well as links to reviews, are available at the Ian McEwan site.

   
How can I meet my favorite author?

Go to Book Signings

Many bookstores, particularly in the larger cities, hold "book signing" events for best-selling authors. Call around to the larger bookstores in your area, and find out if they have any such events scheduled for authors you´d enjoy meeting. Ask if there will be a question-and-answer session, and find out the date and time. It´s great fun, and you´ll treasure your autographed books!

   
What has John Irving written?

John Irving

Author John Irving was born in 1942 and has become one of America's premier novelists in the years since his first publication.

Although "The World According to Garp" seemed to launch him onto the literary scene, it was actually Irving's fourth book. His first novel, "Setting Free the Bears," was published in 1968 when Irving was 26 years old. The critical and commercial success of "Garp," however, is what made him a household name. The 1978 book, later made into a motion picture starring Robin Williams, was among three novels considered for the Pulitzer's 1979 Award in Fiction.

As of 2012, Irving has published 13 novels, several of which were made into films. One of those, "The Cider House Rules," earned Irving an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. Other films from his novels include "The Hotel New Hampshire" and "Simon Birch," an adaptation of his bestselling "A Prayer for Owen Meany." He chronicled his experiences with the film industry in the non-fiction "My Movie Business."

Irving is known to use themes repetitively in his novels, including New England settings, fatal accidents, missing parents and wrestling -- a sport he played and sometimes coaches at the high school level.

   
Who is Thomas Pynchon

Thomas Pynchon: Read V. First

Thomas Pynchon is one of the most celebrated American writers living today. His career has spanned over fifty years, and his novels have received numerous awards, including the National Book Award. His most famous book, Gravity’s Rainbow, was included in TIME’s “All-Time 100 Greatest Novels” (though it should be noted this list was limited to English-language novels published between 1923-2005).

The problem with Pynchon, however, is that he may be one of the most difficult writers to fully understand. Books like Gravity’s Rainbow and Against the Day are massive tomes that clearly required years of research and plot structuring to even envision, let alone write, and they can often prove difficult for readers who are unfamiliar with Pynchon. His penchant for tangents and bizarre jokes may leave some readers feeling lost and frustrated. Consequently, the many readers often abandon the endeavor of reading one of these huge and masterfully written books because they do not feel it to be rewarding.

The novel V., on the other hand, is accessible enough for any avid reader, and is focused enough to not intimidate. Published in 1963, V. was Pynchon’s first book. It was awarded the William Faulkner Foundation’s award for best debut novel, and was very warmly received by critics. Like Pynchon’s larger books, its plot is not linear, but there is a general overarching theme that readers will understand, though they will often find it difficult to explain. After finishing V., one will be able to follow Pynchon’s style, and will be likely to persevere through the more difficult material that comprises such masterpieces as Gravity’s Rainbow and Against the Day.

   

Kipling, Rudyard

Joseph Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) was born in Bombay, British India (now Mumbai), and is best known for his works of fiction. He was one of the most popular writers in English in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907, the first English language writer to receive the award. He also remains its youngest recipient. His children's books such as "The Jungle Book" remain classics.

   

Toobin, Jeffrey

Toobin's background as a working attorney provided him with a solid foundation on the way to becoming one of the most recognized legal journalists in the United States. He received a B.A. from Harvard College before graduating magna cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he was in editor of the "Harvard Law Review." He served as an Assistant United States Attorney in Brooklyn, New York, as well as an associate counsel in the Office of Independent Counsel Lawrence E. Walsh. He has been a staff writer at "The New Yorker" since 1993, and is the senior legal analyst for CNN. In 2000, he received an Emmy Award for his coverage of the Elian Gonzalez case.

   

Rule, Ann

Ann Rule is a Seattle, Washington based true crime writer. She began writing under the pen name Andy Stack in 1969, writing for "True Detective" magazine. She catapulted to fame with her first book, "The Stranger Besides Me." about serial killer Ted Bundy. She had originally begun researching a then-unsolved series of disappearances and killings, only to find that she knew and worked with the prime suspect. The unique perspective captivated readers, and turned Rule into a household name. She has since published almost three dozen books, mostly true crime novels and anthologies.

   

Stout, Rex

Stout was a prolific writer known for the Nero Wolfe mystery series. He was born in Indiana in 1886, and was a math prodigy that studied at the University of Kansas. He quit school to enlist in the Navy. After his service, he tried a variety of jobs, and perhaps most importantly, he began to write. He published three well-received novels before turning to mysteries, and published the first Nero Wolfe novel in 1934.



Stout wrote more than 70 Nero Wolfe books and stories. In 1959, he won the Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master Award. He published the last Nero Wolfe book, "A Family Affair," shortly before his death in 1975.

   

Grisham, John

John Grisham was born in 1955 in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He received a law degree from University of Mississippi in 1981, and practiced civil and criminal law for almost 10 years in Southaven, Mississippi. His first novel, A Time to Kill, was published in 1988 with little fanfare, but his second novel, The Firm, became one of the biggest selling novels of 1991. He is one of the most popular American writers of courtroom thrillers, and many successful movies have been based on his books.

   

Daheim, Mary

Writer Mary Daheim is a Seattle, Washington native. She majored in journalism at the University of Washington, and worked in newspapers and public relations. Her first historical romance was published in 1983, but switched genres and began writing mysteries. The Bed-and-Breakfast series made its debut in 1991, and the Emma Lord series began a year later. She has been nominated for the Agatha Award, and in 2000, won the Pacific Northwest Writers Association Achievement Award.

   

Grimes, Martha

Martha Grimes was born May 2, 1931 in Pittsburgh, PA. She's a mystery writer, probably best know for the Richard Jury series.



She published her first mystery novel in 1981, The Man With a Load of Mischief, which was the first novel to feature Jury. Since then, she has written at least 30 books, and has sold millions of copies worldwide. The Anodyne Necklace, the third book in the Jury series, won the Nero Award in 1983 for best mystery of the year.

   
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