John Saul

Passions

Vocation

Lifestyle

Notable

Family

American writer of horror-fantasy novels. Saul decided to write in the psychological horror thriller genre after visiting the local supermarket and seeing what was the biggest seller of commercial paperback books. His market savvy for the interest of the public paid off and his works are systematic best-sellers. His commercial popularity has horror-fantasy paperback books selling all around the world, translated in 14 languages. Saul grew up in Whittier, CA, the son of an oil refinery worker and homemaker. He began to write at the age of ten. While studying at Antioch College in Ohio, Saul considered majoring in archaeology until he met Margaret Mead. When she visited the campus, she discouraged him by concentrating on the negative aspects of spending hours in a museum. Saul flitted from college to college, attending four colleges in five years until he quit college in 1965 without a degree. He worked at odd jobs as a technological writer, pulp magazine editor, and was the first male temp worker in San Francisco. In 1973, Saul worked as a drug and rehab administrator in a Seattle drug program. After work, he would compose comic murder mysteries, an unhappy unpublished writer. He met Jane Berkey, a New York agent who encouraged him to follow the commercial market and the public tastes. She accepted his book, "Suffer the Children" and he was signed to a contract; first published just weeks before his 35th birthday in 1977. From then on, Saul turned out commercial horror paperback books annually for the market with titles such as "Punish the Sinners" and "Cry for the Stranglers." His expertly constructed and shocking nightmare stories have sold more than one million, with the production of a novel every year since 1977, bringing him an annual income of $1 million. In 1982, he suffered his first failure with a first hardcover, "The God Project." Saul believes his style of writing differs from the prolific Stephen King in that Saul's works are slightly less of the fantasy genre. Teenagers have become Saul's largest audience. He also writes novels under pseudonyms. Born 1989, Saul had lived with his companion, clinical psychologist Michael Sack, for 14 years. The two share Saul's luxurious 30th floor condo in Seattle and a vacation retreat on a nearby island. Saul owns a 50-foot motor cruiser and three expensive cars. He spends four hours writing daily. Link to Wikipedia biography