STEPHENIE MEYER
If any fledgling writer has made a worthy bid for the throne vacated by J.K. Rowling when she published her final Harry Potter book, it would have to be Twilight author Stephenie Meyer. While the 40 million books sold in the Twilight series (so far) is only a tenth of the 400 million Harry Potter books sold, Meyer’s success is still pretty staggering. Especially for a Mormon housewife who had never written a book before.
Stephenie Meyer (née Morgan) was born on December 24th, 1973 in Hartford, Connecticut to Stephen and Candy Morgan. The Morgans later moved Stephenie and her five siblings to Phoenix, Arizona. Stephenie attended Chaparral High School in Scottsdale. Later, she received a B.A. in English at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. While still growing up in Phoenix, Stephenie met Christian “Pancho” Meyer -- the two were married in 1994 and have three sons, Gabe, Seth, and Eli.
According to Stephenie, the inspiration for Twilight came via a dream she had on June 2nd, 2003. It involved a human girl and a vampire -- said vampire was in love with her, but torn by his desire for her blood. Writing a transcript of the dream (which eventually became Chapter 13 of the book), Stephenie spent the next three months turning it into a novel. The fact that she was taking care of three kids under 5 at the time, typing with one hand and holding a baby with the other, makes it all the more remarkable. When she was finished, she found an agent and quickly signed a three-book deal with Little, Brown and Company for $750,000.
PROFILER’S NOTE: WOW!
Twilight was published in 2005 and quickly garnered staggering sales and numerous honors, including: Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, New York Times Editor’s Choice, Amazon.com “Best Book of the Decade So Far,” The American Library Association “Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults” and Teen People “Hot List” pick.
Though many of the reviews were mixed, the book’s huge sales and translation into 20 languages speak volumes about the compelling nature of the story. Striking while this iron was smoking hot, Stephenie followed this with three sequels, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. In 2008, the four books claimed the top four spots on the year-end bestseller list -- a first for any author.
After Breaking Dawn was published, Stephenie claimed this would be the final novel told from Bella Swan’s first person perspective. Midnight Sun was to be the fifth book -- a retelling of Twilight from vampire Edward Cullen’s point of view. Yet after rough versions of the first 12 chapters were leaked online, Stephenie announced the book was to be postponed indefinitely.
Stephenie cites many classic novels as inspiring her Twilight series. Specifically: Twilight: Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. New Moon: Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Eclipse: Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights. Breaking Dawn: Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
A film version of Twilight was produced by Summit Entertainment in November 2008. Thought nearly every studio in Hollywood had turned the property down, the film (starring Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson) went on to gross over $350 million worldwide. It’s sequels were quickly fasttracked for release over the next two years. Stephenie makes a cameo appearance in Twilight in a diner scene.
In May of 2008, Little, Brown and Company published The Host, Stephenie’s first non-Twilight novel. It debuted at #1 on the New York times bestseller List, remaining there for 26 weeks. Stephenie has two sequels in the works, The Soul and The Seeker.
Up next: Figuring out how to spend all that Twilight money.
Click the links for my reviews of Twilight and New Moon.
UNSCRIPTED WITH STEPHENIE MEYER, KRISTEN STEWART AND ROBERT PATTINSON
Comments
Great article Andy!
huh? The Cullens aren't goth in any respect. I don't know why everyone thinks vampire has to = goth.
wow i just fell inlove with twilight, in fact im reading the books again. Its really depressing that someone took your ideas and put them online. they should feel ashame for themselves. It would be really cool if you could tell me some about the book if its cool if not its understandable.
Great work on them!!!
Hearts marissa :)
I just got done with the series it only took about 2 weeks i love these books and i want more!!! I hope that there will be more soon
I love The Host... When are the next books going to come out???
i love the twilight series.i use to hate reading until i read the twilight series.you did a great job on writing the series.
i love the twilight books sooo much please, please dont stop makin them !? =(
I am reading the Breaking Dawn book right now and it is amazing i cant wait to see the movies. I wish i could be in one of the movies so that i could experince it too.
I love your the twilight books a lot
One of my friend loves your books and do to a lot. Is there other imformation about you stephine Meyer?
are you making more books
The only books i have read in my life for fun are the twilight books, which I have read six times each. I have tons of pictures of robert, i send him fanmail all the time, and traded my cell phone to get the movie one day earlier. I totally love him, both Edward and Robert. Miley Cirus said that she isnt a big fan and that people like Edward not Robert, but i know alot abput Robert. I yell and scream when people ay anything about him. I have even attavked someone for calling him ugly. When he dies, i am going to die as soon as i can after ward. If my wholr family was on a plane and so was he and i could save only one person it would be him. I have a lot of ideas for a sequal to breaking dawn, if Stephanie ever desides to make one. Well if anyone thinks they are his biggest fan i dare you to challenge me.
I was listening to your New Moon sound track and I think there are some better songs that would go better in line with the book. I have read all the books three times. I am a huge fan. I am truly sorry someone hacked your computer and stole your next novel. I have not read and won't until it is done, it would not be fair. I have heard many many stories that you were and were not going to finish it. If you that would be awesome to see the other side of that coin. But truly please re-think some of the music. If you would like to hear what we have suggested a few other to replace some of the ones n the list. I woud be happy to give them to you.
Love ya Sandy and Thank you again.
i have read all the books seventy three times
i am stephenie meyerss bigest fan and one day hope to meet her
i love the Cullens, they are so nice and welcoming to Bella. And just because they are vampires doesnt mean that their GOTH! i hate when people assume they are goth because they are vampires, or they like goth
Hi Stephenie meyer, i realy love the books you wrote on twilight.and i am reading the 4th one right now and i fell like never stop reading it. i love how Edward act in the movie twilight, he realy act romanic and i love it. keep up the great joy. i love your books alot and i will look forward the movies. when is the new moon gonna be on DVD? BYE...
i love the part that bella isnt afraid of him, thats true love.
did you add medican to your books because when i read them i couldn't put it down!!!! i am only 11 and i am a twilight addict! PLEASE make more books!!!!
I LOVE YHOO STEPHENIE MEYER!!! i am doing a project about you =DD
This article is awesome, according to the fact that im absolutly in love woth twilight! : )
Me too. im doing a project aboutyou too.
: )
stephnie meyer is my hero i LOVE her books i hope she wrights more because i will not stop reading them please write more twilight pretty pretty please with a cherry on top!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
stephnie meyer is my hero i LOVE her books i hope she wrights more because i will not stop reading them please write more twilight pretty pretty please with a cherry on top!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! also we r doin a thing at school called a wax museum and i get to b my hero which is u and im 11 i live in ohio but the wax museum isnt til may i will write u again whenever i can with love (and lots of it) alexis r.
i am seriosly in love with your books and i am your BIGGEST fan of all time it would b so cool to b in one i have read all your books one million and one times i cant put them down litteraly i am holding tem right now
YOU ARE SO AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YOU ROCK!!!!!!! I LOVE TWILIGHT!!!!!!! I READ ALL OF THE BOOKS!!!!!! ITS AWSOME!!!!!!!! AND EDWARD IS HOT!!!!!!!!!
omg i love your books;0
please make 1 more book PLEASE!!!!!!
I LOVE your books!!! They are my favorite!! I have read Twilight 8 times now!! Im your biggest fan!! I have also read your other book THe Host!! I have loved all of you books!!! I hope you finish Midnight Sun!! Are you writing any more books?
please write more books!!
I just want to say that I LOVE YOUR BOOKS AND I HOPE ME AND MY COUSIN GET TO SEE BREAKING DAWN THE MOVIE
P.S I AM A BIG FAN AND I READ ALL YOUR BOOKS
fantastic!!!!
i really love your books!!!
i'd finished reading the twilight & new moon book..& im looking 4ward to read ur other books..they're really great!!! i'm not fond of reading books but your works changed my interest..reading is now my hobby!! thanks to you!! xoxoxoxoxo
I am a mother of three teenage children and I read all 4 of the books to see if they were like other romance books, a little to descriptive for a teenager but I found that these books are very much in a class of there own. I believe Stephenie Meyer has writen the absolute best books I have ever read. And now my daughter and I both know who our favorite writer it. I just wish there were more books to the twilight saga.
the books were a discrace to vampire books and the movie was pure hell and tare brant your an idoit
Hey Brenananananana ... if that IS your real name ... if you're going to call somebody an idiot, you might want to learn to spell. And use proper grammar. And punctuation. Sheesh.
Stephenie Meyer's Books are the best!!! And if anyone has a problem with it they can just drop dead!!!
Your books rock. I love them so much. I can't believe the people who have a problem with the series. They can just shut their mouths so they can't say anything bad. Stephenie Meyer rocks.
Hola, mi hijo Roberto Gomez Fernandez ha leido tres de sus libros, realmente no sé porque le fascinan. Se lo compro y a la semana ya los leyó; solo quiero que sepa que si existe alguna forma de comunicarse con Usted, me lo haga saber a travès de mi correo electrónico robertgomezcampos@hotmail.com y creo que le agradarà mucho tener noticias de Usted. Tal vez sea imposible mi deseo, pero es mejor intentar algo. El sabe leer y escribir inglés así que espero y tenga exito en mi deseo de darle algo màs que libros de Usted. Gracias. Felicidades.
You have done the impossible from me. I have never liked to read since i wasn't any good at it and nothing stuck when i did try to read. I bought Twilight for a present for my teenage daughter and watched it with her one night. 67 times later i am just dying for new moon to come out so i bought all the book and read them all in 3 weeks. i have never done that EVER!!!! I being a middle aged house wife still gets butterflies thinking about the "honeymoon night" Thank you for inspiring me to read. My children have seen me read and it means alot to them also to see Mom taking a break and reading.I hope they (movie producers and driectors)do the bedroom scenes justice when it comes out at theatres. I cannot express enough to you what your books have done for me. You are the most talented write ever. I will reread these book till they are ntohing but shreads. It has also brought my teenage daughter and I closer.... Thank you for everything D. Cavagnaro S. Windsor, CT
stephani meyer...you are so great! i LOVE your books..i wish i could meet you and the twilight cast in person!!!!!!
twilight i loved. it it was awsome. you rock stephenie you rock
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