I grew up in Philadelphia, earned a Bachelors degree in Physical Education at Penn State University, a Masters Degree in Sports Medicine from the University of Delaware, and a Doctorate of Education at Temple University. When a business I owned failed, I decided to pen a novel I had been thinking about for years. Working late nights and on weekends, I eventually finished MEG; A Novel of Deep Terror...selling my car to pay for editing fees. On September (Friday) the 13th, 1996, I lost my GM job at a wholesale meat plant. Four days later my agent had a two-book deal with Bantam Doubleday.
MEG is about a 70-foot, 70,000 pound prehistoric great white shark. The novel would go on to become the book of the 1996 Frankfurt book fair, where it eventually sold to more than a twenty countries. It hit every major best-seller list, including #19 on the New York Times list (#7 audio), and was even a popular radio series in Japan.
My second novel, The TRENCH (Meg sequel) was released by Kensington/Pinnacle in 1999. My third novel, DOMAIN and its sequel, RESURRECTION were purchased by Tor/Forge, along with GOLIATH and the third book in the MEG series, MEG; Primal Waters. In April of 2005, MEG was optiond by New Line Cinema, which will release the movie in Summer 2008 (fingers crossed). Jan de Bont (Twister) will direct. My 7th novel, The LOCH, is about the Loch Ness monster.
I answer all of my e-mail personally every day for 3 hours. All of the characters in my novels are fans who have entered characer contests. Visit my website at SteveAlten.com
If you are a movie producer looking for a low budget, high potential comedy, I have written three original scripts that will soon become available.
Over the years, I have received many many e-mails from teens who hated reading ...until they read MEG or my other novels. When I learned high school teachers were actually using my books in the classroom (MEG had been rated #1 book for reluctant readers) I founded Adopt-An-Author, a nationwide non-profit program designed to encourage students to read. Teachers who register for the program (it’s free) receive giant shark posters, free curriculum materials, student-author correspondence, an interactive website, and classroom conference calls/visits with the author. To date, over 8,000 teachers have registered, and the success rate in getting teens to read has been unprecedented. I now spend 15-20 hours a week working with high schools. For more information click on AdoptAnAuthor.com
As an author, I have two goals. First, to continue to work hard to become a better storyteller and create exciting page turning thrillers. Second, to remain accessible to my readers.
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