title: About the Author: The Passionate Reader's Guide to the Authors You Love, Including Things You Never Knew, Juicy Bits You'll Want to Know, and Hundreds of Ideas for What to Read Next
author:  Alfred Glossbrenner 
description: Who was the inspiration for the character of Rhett Butler? Where can I find Terry McMillan's tips for a book-promotion campaign? How old was Issac Asimov when he graduated from high school? With its entertaining blend of trivia, biographical facts, and reading recommendations, <I>About the Author</I> provides information on all your favorite writers and their books. Arranged alphabetically, the authors get a full two pages each, including dates of major life events, related Web sites and fan clubs, a full list of titles, and personal inspirations that can give you new ideas for other books to discover. Is Wally Lamb your favorite author? Since some of his favorites are Alice Walker, Margaret Atwood, and John Updike, maybe you should give some of their books a try. Several generations are covered here, and all genres, including C.S. Lewis, Zora Neale Hurston, Mario Puzo, and Patricia Cornwell. You say you've worked your way through all these books already? Well, check out the "What Else to Read" section at the back--these pages cover award-winning titles, bestsellers, and "Top 25" lists assembled by universities, fan Web sites, and professional organizations devoted to specific genres. College students who consider themselves well-read will be surprised at how many Pulitzer Prize winners they're unfamiliar with. The list of banned books may be just the thing to get your teen reading regularly. A terrific guidebook for literature lovers, it even has a listing of regional events related to books and reading, as well as contact information for major publishers and booksellers. Read this book with pen and paper in hand; you're sure to have a reading list several pages long by the time you've finished. <I>--Jill Lightner</I>
zlib_text: _A Note from the Author_
  
  Dear Reader,
  
  What a great time it is for booklovers. There are so many ways for us to read
  books from our favorite authors these days. Until recently, I never left home
  without a book in my bag. Now, thanks to my e-reader, I can carry hundreds
  with me.
  
  My contemporary novels have all been formatted as e-books, and I’m delighted
  that most of my earlier historicals can now be downloaded, too. I had so much
  fun writing these stories, and I hope you enjoy them.
  
  I am often asked which of my books is my favorite. It’s difficult to pick
  favorites. Whatever book I am writing has my undivided attention, so my
  favorite characters are usually the ones I am spending the most time with. For
  that reason, I am most excited about _Sweet Talk_ , which Dutton will publish
  in August 2012. So before you dip into this earlier book of mine, I have
  included the first chapter of _Sweet Talk_ here. It is the only place you can
  get a sneak peek at my new book, and I hope you love th