Authors on the Web - Author of the Month

February, 2004

Daniel Silva
Daniel Silva began his career as a foreign correspondent in the Middle East for UPI. He later became the executive producer of CNN's Washington-based public affairs programming, Following the surprise success of his debut novel The Unlikely Spy, Silva made the transition from journalist to full-time author. Silva has established himself as one of the premier writers of international intrigue stories. His books include The Mark of the Assassin, The Marching Season, The Kill Artist, The English Assassin and The Confessor --- all of which were hardcover bestsellers.

To celebrate the release of his latest title, A Death in Vienna, the third book in the Gabriel Allon trilogy (The English Assasin and The Confessor were the first two titles), AuthorsOnTheWeb has chosen Daniel Silva as our Author of the Month. Readers can learn more about Silva's life and works through fast facts and biographical information, as well as links to his website, bibliography, interviews and book reviews.

January, 2004

Brad Meltzer
Becoming a novelist was not one of Brad Meltzer's lifelong ambitions; he arrived at this profession by chance after his job at a magazine didn't work out. He had no idea what to do with his life, but resolved to write a novel --- a good choice at the time, considering how much he enjoyed writing.

His first book, The Tenth Justice, became an instant New York Times bestseller and subsequent efforts --- Dead Even, The First Counsel and The Millionaires --- were just as successful. Meltzer's legal thrillers are fast-paced, tension-filled and exhaustively researched.

Meltzer's latest novel, The Zero Game, focuses on two Capitol Hill staffers involved in a lethal game and the 16-year-old Senate page determined to redeem them. To celebrate its release, AuthorsOnTheWeb has chosen Brad Meltzer as our Author of the Month. Readers can learn more about Meltzer's life and works through fast facts and biographical information, as well as links to his website, bibliography, interviews and book reviews.

November, 2003

Patricia Cornwell
The success of series books depends largely on whether or not the author can create a protagonist who the audience can identify with on some level --- a multidimensional character who will repeatedly draw readers in and bring them back for more. Patricia Cornwell has achieved this brilliantly with medical examiner Kay Scarpetta, a compelling heroine who confronts horrifying crimes with intelligence and determination. The popularity of these novels has made Cornwell one of the world's bestselling and most prolific female novelists.

Cornwell made national headlines in 2002 with the publication of Portrait of a Killer, in which she claims to know the identity of the infamous Jack the Ripper. This controversial and much talked about book marked her first appearance on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list.

This year, Cornwell returns to fiction with Blow Fly, the 12th installment in the Kay Scarpetta series. To celebrate its release, AuthorsOnTheWeb has chosen Patricia Cornwell as our Author of the Month. Readers can learn more about Cornwell's life and works through fast facts and biographical information, as well as links to her website, bibliography and book reviews.

October, 2003

David Baldacci
Bestselling author. Former attorney. Philanthropist. Engaging speaker and activist. Loving husband and father. All of the above fittingly describe David Baldacci, whose affinity for writing began when he was in high school. However, it wasn't until he read John Irving's The World According to Garp that he knew he wanted to be a novelist.

The years Baldacci spent in Washington, D.C. as a trial and corporate attorney gave him plenty of background to write a number of bestselling political and legal thrillers, including Absolute Power, Total Control, The Simple Truth, Last Man Standing and his latest, Split Second. He has also ventured away from the suspense/thriller genre to write mainstream fiction with Wish You Well and The Christmas Train, both of which were bestsellers. In addition to being a widely read author, Baldacci is a sought-after speaker, an advocate for literacy and the importance of reading (particularly among children and teenagers), and is involved in a number of philanthropic activities.

To celebrate the release of Split Second, AuthorsOnTheWeb has chosen David Baldacci as our Author of the Month. Readers can learn more about Baldacci's life and works through fast facts and biographical information, as well as links to his website, bibliography, an interview and book reviews.

September, 2003

Mitch Albom
Mitch Albom is a bestselling author who has written eight books, including the phenomenally popular Tuesdays With Morrie. Published in 1997, it stayed on the New York Times bestseller list for four straight years. His latest is The Five People You Meet in Heaven, in which a wounded war veteran is killed in a tragic accident and meets five people in heaven who explain the mystery of what he thought was a meaningless life.

To celebrate the release of The Five People You Meet in Heaven, AuthorsOnTheWeb has chosen Mitch Albom as our Author of the Month. Readers can learn more about Albom's life and works through fast facts and biographical information, as well as links to his website, bibliography and book reviews.

August, 2003

Elizabeth George
America's premiere mystery writers. Leaving her job as a high school teacher to pursue a career in writing, she immediately found success with her first novel, A Great Deliverance, which was the recipient of the Agatha Award, the Anthony Award, and France's Le Grand Prix de Literature Policiere. George has since authored a number of original novels, including Well-Schooled in Murder, which won the German MIMI award for mystery writing.

George's novels are set exclusively in England and feature many recurring characters, including the popular duo of Inspector Thomas Lynley and Sergeant Barbara Havers. Her body of work has been optioned by the BBC, and a four-part miniseries based on her books is set to air on PBS at the end of this month.

To celebrate the release of her latest novel, A Place of Hiding, AuthorsOnTheWeb has chosen Elizabeth George as our Author of the Month. Readers can learn more about George's life and works through fast facts and biographical information, as well as links to her website, bibliography and book reviews.

July, 2003

Mark T. Sullivan
Before focusing his attention on writing mystery/suspense novels, Mark T. Sullivan was a successful and well-respected journalist. As an investigative reporter in San Diego, Sullivan did more than merely gather information for a story and proceed to his next assignment. His style of journalism involved total cultural immersion, learning as much as he could about the lives and cultures of his subjects. For his efforts in the field, Sullivan was nominated twice for the Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting.

The research Sullivan conducts for his books goes well beyond surfing the Internet, looking up facts in a reference book or interviewing experts. A self-professed adventure junkie, Sullivan enjoys nature and seeking out new places. Therefore, his novels center on a variety of people with adventurous occupations, such as extreme skiers, deer trackers and cavers. In order to produce the most intriguing and credible stories possible, Sullivan has abandoned the safety and security of his home to participate in these potentially dangerous activities, resulting in such gripping novels as The Fall Line, The Purification Ceremony, and Labyrinth.

His latest novel, The Serpent's Kiss, marks the beginning of a series of books based on a team of San Diego homicide detectives. To celebrate the release of The Serpent's Kiss, AuthorsOnTheWeb has chosen Mark Sullivan as our Author of the Month. Readers can learn more about Sullivan's life and works through trivia questions, fast facts and biographical information, as well as links to his website, bibliography, interviews, and book reviews.

June, 2003

James Patterson
James Patterson's novels include his popular series featuring forensic psychologist/detective Alex Cross and the "Women's Murder Club" series, which is full of breathtaking drama and shocking twists. His latest effort, The Lake House, is the highly anticipated sequel to the 1998 bestselling When the Wind Blows. To celebrate the release of The Lake House, AuthorsOnTheWeb has chosen James Patterson as our Author of the Month. Readers can learn more about Patterson's life and works through trivia questions, fast facts and biographical information, as well as links to his website, bibliography, past interviews, and book reviews.

May, 2003

Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood's love for writing began early in life. At the age of six, she says she began writing "poems, morality plays, comic books and an unfinished novel about an ant." So it comes as little surprise that this literary girl would grow up to become one of Canada's major contemporary authors of fiction, poetry and essays. Among her most recent works are the bestselling novels The Robber Bride, Alias Grace and The Blind Assassin, in addition to the collections Wilderness Tips and Bluebeard's Egg. In her latest novel, Oryx and Crake, Atwood invites her audience to enter the future of our own world, a bleak and terrifying place that has been destroyed in the wake of ecological and scientific disaster and is populated by characters who readers won't soon forget.

April, 2003

Dennis Lehane
Dennis Lehane wrote his first novel, A Drink Before the War, in three weeks and subsequently tossed it into a box. He wrote this first draft merely because he was bored and thought it would be a good way to entertain himself. Yes, it took about a dozen more drafts before it was accepted for publication. Little did he know that this "diversion" would receive much attention and win the Shamus Award for Best First Novel. Since then, Lehane has been crafting one novel after another. His first five titles were the Kenzie/Gennaro series, which have featured the popular duo, Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro, investigative partners and friends since childhood.His first stand-alone novel, Mystic River, was a smash success and landed on numerous bestseller lists. Mystic River is being made into a movie scheduled for release this fall. Clint Eastwood directs it and the big-name cast includes Sean Penn as Jimmy, Kevin Bacon as Sean, Tim Robbins as Dave, Laura Linney as Annabeth (Jimmy's wife) and Marcia Gay Harden as Celeste (Dave's wife). This month Lehane has returned with Shutter Island, the highly anticipated thriller that promises to be his next major bestseller.

March, 2003

Phillip Margolin
For almost 25 years, Phillip Margolin worked as a criminal defense attorney in Portland, Oregon at both the trial and appellate levels. During his law career, he tried a great number of cases and even argued before the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1974, Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine published a short story he had written called "The Girl in the Yellow Bikini." This achievement gave Margolin the confidence he needed to begin writing books. The general public was introduced to Phillip Margolin --- the novelist --- when Heartstone was released in 1978. Margolin has used his extensive knowledge of the law and his many years of experience in the courtroom to write a series of highly successful and popular legal thrillers, all of which have been New York Times bestsellers. His latest effort is Ties That Bind and, if his past successes are any indication, this novel will be the next great "edge-of-your-seat" thriller. To celebrate the release of Ties That Bind, AuthorsOnTheWeb has chosen Phillip Margolin as our Author of the Month. Readers can learn more about Margolin's life and works through fast facts and biographical information, as well as links to his website, bibliography and book reviews.

February, 2003

Nevada Barr
For the past decade, Nevada Barr has written a series of highly successful and praiseworthy books featuring a protagonist named Anna Pigeon, who resembles her in several ways. Barr has drawn on her previous experiences as a park ranger and her personal love of nature to write these mysteries. They can easily be called "environmental mysteries" because the pivotal action always takes place in the Great Outdoors. Barr's latest Anna Pigeon novel is Flashback, set on a remote island paradise 70 miles off Key West. Unfortunately, Anna is nowhere near paradise when she soon discovers that the crimes of the past and present are quickly closing in on her. To celebrate the release of Flashback, AuthorsOnTheWeb has chosen Nevada Barr as our Author of the Month. Readers can learn more about Barr's life and works through fast facts and biographical information, as well as links to her website, bibliography and book reviews.

January, 2003

Jeffrey Archer
For over 25 years, Jeffrey Archer has captivated audiences with his intriguing characters, ingenious plots and trademark surprise endings. His first novel, Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less, was a bestseller in America and launched his long and prosperous literary career. A Matter of Honor, The Accused, Honor Among Thieves and Twelve Red Herrings are just some of the books that have helped him earn the title "master of the plot twist." With sales of over 120 million books worldwide, Archer has taken the art of thriller writing to a new bone-chilling level. His latest book, Sons of Fortune, focuses on the reunion of twin brothers separated at birth and the shocking twists and turns that ensue. To celebrate the release of Sons of Fortune, AuthorsOnTheWeb has chosen Jeffrey Archer as our Author of the Month. Readers can learn more about Archer's life and works through fast facts and biographical information, as well as links to his bibliography and book reviews.

December, 2002

Michael Crichton
For over 30 years, Michael Crichton has written books that focus on a wide variety of subjects: science, murder, extra-terrestrial life forms and international politics, to name a few. As "the father of the techno-thriller," Crichton has brilliantly incorporated his extensive medical and scientific knowledge in such novels as The Andromeda Strain, The Terminal Man, Timeline and Jurassic Park. He has also challenged his audience to think about important issues that affect our everyday culture in The Rising Sun, Disclosure and Airframe. Known for his exciting plots and memorable characters, Michael Crichton returned to bookstores this fall with Prey. Set in a Nevada, eight people are trapped inside a high-tech fabrication plant --- in danger from a swarm of mircroparticles created by the group. To celebrate the release of Prey, AuthorsOnTheWeb.com has chosen Michael Crichton as our Author of the Month.

November, 2002

Scott Turow
You know him best as the author of Presumed Innocent. Critics are raving about Reversible Errors, the latest novel from legal thriller master Scott Turow. Bookreporter.com's Ann Bruns calls Reversible Errors "a compelling story spun from an astute reflection of those fallible humans that underly the fragile structure of the judicial process." With sales of nearly 25 million, the author of Presumed Innocent, The Burden of Proof, Pleading Guilty, The Laws of our Fathers, and Personal Injuries is one of the country's bestselling authors. In November AuthorsOnTheWeb honors Scott Turow as our Author of the Month.

October, 2002

Pat Conroy
With novels like The Prince of Tides and Beach Music, Pat Conroy has become one of America's most popular authors. His book, My Losing Season, is a nonfiction account of his 1966-1967 stint as point guard at the Citadel, and how these experiences shaped him as a person and as a writer. For all of you who are wondering --- Yes, his last book was Beach Music, which was published in 1995. In October AuthorsOnTheWeb honors Pat Conroy as our Author of the Month.

September, 2002

Nicholas Sparks
Nicholas Sparks has captivated audiences with his romantic novels since the 1996 publication of The Notebook. Four more bestsellers followed --- Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, A Bend in the Road and The Rescue, making Sparks one of the most popular authors in contemporary fiction. This month Warner Books will publish Sparks' sixth novel, Nights in Rodanthe. To celebrate, AuthorsOnTheWeb has selected Nicholas Sparks as the September Author of The Month and presents fast facts, and biographical information, as well as links to book reviews, reading guides, and more.

August, 2002

John Jakes
John Jakes won legions of fans with his Kent Family Chronicles and the North and South trilogy. Now Jakes presents Charleston, an epic novel which takes readers back in time to this historic southern city. From the 1720s through the Civil War, Jakes introduces the Bell family and recreates the passion, political turmoil, and bloodshed of these periods. To celebrate the publication of Charleston, AuthorsOnTheWeb honors John Jakes as the August Author of the Month and presents "fast facts" about his career and personal life, trivia questions, and more.

July, 2002

Catherine Coulter
As one of America's most prolific Romance writers, Catherine Coulter has written about several historical periods in her vastly popular character-linked series books. Each year she promises --- and delivers --- her die-hard fans continuations of at least two of their favorite series, and in recent years she has begun to tackle the contemporary thriller/romance genre. Her newest book, Eleventh Hour, is the seventh installment in her FBI suspense series, but she plans to continue historical period romances as well. From Vikings to Victorians, Catherine has a novel for every interest.

June, 2002

Janet Evanovich
Janet Evanovich burst onto the mystery scene in 1994 with One for the Money and introduced readers to one of the most unconventional characters in fiction: Stephanie Plum. The lingerie buyer-turned-bounty hunter has delighted thousands of fans. The first book was a New York Times Notable Book and subsequent titles were bestsellers. To celebrate the publication of Hard Eight, AuthorsOnTheWeb honors Janet Evanovich as Author of the Month with "fast facts" about her career and personal life, trivia questions, and more. If you have not been introduced to Evanovich's sassy character we hope you'll pick up One for the Money, Two for the Dough, Three to Get Deadly, Four to Score, High Five, Hot Six, and Seven Up --- and start reading!

May, 2002

Rick Moody
Rick Moody has been consistantly acclaimed for his literary novels and short stories. Dealing with such topics as personal and family relationships, sexuality, mortality, and adolescence, Moody writes unabashedly about human nature. Moody's latest book, The Black Veil, is an intense, personal look at the man himself. His fiction includes Demonology, Purple America, The Ring of Brightest Angels Around Heaven, The Ice Storm, and Garden State. Authors on the Web honors Rick Moody this month by providing "fast facts," trivia questions and biographical information on his life and books.

April, 2002

Jean M. Auel
Rarely has a book stirred up so much anticipation and speculation as Jean M. Auel's The Shelters of Stone. For 12 years fans have been waiting for the next Earth's Children tale --- some patiently, others not so patiently. The waiting comes to an end when the fifth Earth's Children novel hits stores April 30. With her popular hybrid of historical fiction, romance, and fantasy The Shelters of Stone is expected to climb the bestseller lists and join The Clan of the Cave Bear, The Valley of Horses, The Mammoth Hunters, and The Plains of Passage as a classic in popular fiction. AuthorsOnTheWeb.com salutes Jean M. Auel this month with biographical and trivia information about her life and career. If you are already an Auel fan we hope you'll join us in celebrating the publication of The Shelters of Stone. If you have yet to enter Auel's world we hope you'll be tempted to pick up the first book and work your way through the series.

March, 2002

George P. Pelecanos
George P. Pelecanos has already established himself as the new master of noir crime fiction with ten outstanding novels to his credit. His latest, HELL TO PAY, marks the return of the Derek Strange/Terry Quinn team that grabbed readers attention in his preceeding bestseller, RIGHT AS RAIN. Pelecanos relates to the dark and seamy side of Washington, DC the way that Michael Connolly and Dennis Lehane look at Los Angeles and Boston --- staring at the underbelly and giving it a voice and a story. AuthorsOnTheWeb.com spotlights Pelecanos with a review of his latest novels, biographical information, and a quiz to test your Pelecanos expertise. If you don't know him, now's the time to read what you've been missing.

February, 2002

Carl Hiaasen
Known for his razor wit and thought-provoking sociopolitical commentary, Carl Hiaasen, the award-winning columnist for The Miami Herald, is the bestselling author of nine novels that blend gritty mystery with his unflagging devotion to crucifying developers, politicians, and any other entity that threatens the quality of life in his beloved home state of Florida. Hiaasen has also written an essay blasting the Disney enterprise, two anthologies culled from his Miami Herald columns, and coauthored three earlier crime novels with Bill Montalbano which are currently back in print. AuthorsOnTheWeb.com showcases this enormously funny writer with reviews of his novels, biographical information, and a quiz to test your Hiaasen expertise.

January, 2001

Elmore Leonard
The undisputed master of American cool, Elmore Leonard parlayed a nomadic childhood and a preoccupation with Bonnie and Clyde into a body of work that includes more than three dozen books and twenty screenplays. Read on as AuthorsOnTheWeb.com brings you all the essential info on this prolific, influential and indisputably hep writer.

December, 2001

Dean Koontz
Published in 38 languages and with worldwide sales at 200 million plus, Dean Koontz's chilling, psychologically complex novels are clearly among reader's favorites. With the release of his latest suspense tale, One Door Away from Heaven, AuthorsOnTheWeb.com decided to take a closer look at one of America's most prolific and original storytellers.

November, 2001

Isabel Allende
Magic, spirituality, political issues --- all these themes and more are intertwined in the fiction of Isabel Allende. Novels like The House of Spirits have engrossed and enthralled readers with their poetic language, dizzying intermarriage of worlds and expansive plots. Read on as we bring you more info on this beloved author.

October, 2001

Homer Hickam
Homer Hickam's memoir Rocket Boys was translated into 8 languages, made into a film (October Sky) and spent many weeks on The New York Times bestseller list. The story continued in a second book, The Coalwood Way, which captured more of the spirit of Coalwood, West Virginia. October brings the publication of the next installment in Hickam's memoir trilogy, Sky of Stone. Read more about this down-to-earth author whose works deal with reaching for the stars while keeping your feet --- and ideals --- grounded.

September, 2001

Joyce Carol Oates
Talk about prolific. In her 25 plus years of writing, Joyce Carol Oates has authored more than 70 books. And she's a genre-buster as well, writing novels, short stories, poetry, plays, literary criticism and essays. Oates' writing has earned a National Book Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship, the O'Henry Prize and two nominations for the Nobel Prize in Literature. Read more about this hard working author and her penchant for disturbing subject matter.

August, 2001

Clive Cussler
Clive Cussler is a quintessential Renaissance man. An undisputed master of the action/adventure novel, he also founded The National Underwater and Marine Agency (NUMA), a nonprofit dedicated to the search and rescue of sunken ships and the preservation of maritime history, and is a consummate classic automobile collector. Cussler began writing in 1965 with the first installment of the Dirk Pitt series and has not stopped, along the way garnering 17 consecutive best fiction sellers on The New York Times list. Read on to learn more about this prolific author, who keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

July, 2001

Jacquelyn Mitchard
In September 1996 the face of popular literature was forever changed when Oprah launched her Book of the Month Club with Jacquelyn Mitchard's The Deep End of the Ocean. Declining to sit on her Oprah-author laurels, Mitchard has written three books since that time, the latest of which is another work of fiction, A Theory of Relativity. But whether or not Mitchard finds herself once again heeding the Oprah call, her piercing insight into the complexities of love and family does not remain to be seen. Read on to learn more about this provocative storyteller.

June, 2001

Larry McMurtry
Larry McMurtry wears many hats, not just a cowboy one. He is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, memoirist, screenplay writer and bookstore owner. With his latest literary offering --- PARADISE, a memoir --- McMurtry brings his readers a work that is both original and highly personal. Learn more about one of America's most masterful storytellers.

May, 2001

Terry Pratchett
Think J.R.R. Tolkein meets Oscar Wilde and you'll be getting closer to pinpointing the particular kind of hilarious and biting satire Terry Pratchett injects into his fantasical Discworld. With his latest book, THIEF OF TIME, Pratchett targets only the most ineffable and transcendent of all phenomena: Time. Learn more about the man whose acclaimed novels have garnered him an international fanbase (not to mention a Discworld Critical Companion.)

March, 2001

Anita Shreve
With her new novel The Last Time They Met arriving in bookstores this month, and the movie adaptation of The Weight of Water coming to the big screen later this year, Anita Shreve is at the height of a distinguished career. Learn more about her past as a teacher and an award-winning international journalist and the rest of her journey to bestsellerdom.

February, 2001

Amy Tan

January, 2001

Michael Connelly

December, 2000

Barbara Kingsolver

Back to top.