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Stephenie Meyer: The Unauthorized Biography of the Creator of the Twilight Saga
The romance of vampire Edward and human Bella in the books Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn has captured the imaginations of millions of readers and become an amazing success story. No less amazing is the story of how an unknown Arizona wife and mother, Stephenie Meyer, became a superstar author.
In this revealing biography, fans of all things Twilight will follow their favorite writer on her roller-coaster ride to bestselling author—from a childhood steeped in great literature, to a comfortable domestic life, and finally to that fateful dream one night that thrust Stephenie Meyer into a world she could only have imagined.
In this book you will discover:
* An exclusive interview with Stephenie's creative writing teacher who reveals what kind of student she was
* The in-depth story of how Twilight started with a dream and became a reality
* The tension Stephenie experienced in writing Twilight in secret
* The challenges and pitfalls involved in her books reaching the silver screen
* Stephenie's possible plans for the future
* And much more!
With eight pages of full-color photos, original interviews with people who are a part of Meyer's life, never-before-revealed details, and info on all of her fabulous books, this biography is a must-have for every Twilight fan.
In this revealing biography, fans of all things Twilight will follow their favorite writer on her roller-coaster ride to bestselling author—from a childhood steeped in great literature, to a comfortable domestic life, and finally to that fateful dream one night that thrust Stephenie Meyer into a world she could only have imagined.
In this book you will discover:
* An exclusive interview with Stephenie's creative writing teacher who reveals what kind of student she was
* The in-depth story of how Twilight started with a dream and became a reality
* The tension Stephenie experienced in writing Twilight in secret
* The challenges and pitfalls involved in her books reaching the silver screen
* Stephenie's possible plans for the future
* And much more!
With eight pages of full-color photos, original interviews with people who are a part of Meyer's life, never-before-revealed details, and info on all of her fabulous books, this biography is a must-have for every Twilight fan.
- GenresNonfictionBiography
224 pages, Paperback
First published December 7, 2009
About the author
Marc Shapiro
131 books76 followersMarc Shapiro is the author of the New York Times bestselling biography, J.K. Rowling: The Wizard behind Harry Potter, and more than a dozen other celebrity biographies. He has been a freelance entertainment journalist for more than twenty-five years, covering film, television, and music for a number of national and international newspapers and magazines.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/marcsh...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/marcsh...
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
September 18, 2010
It must be nice to be Marc Shapiro. He apparently makes his living primarily by researching a celebrity on the internet and then writing a short book / long term paper about them. I could get used to that.
This book doesn't really give much insight into Meyer, since it is based mostly on online "interviews" and research. Some primary research was conducted I guess - I think that a few people who peripherally knew her - like a college writing professor and a member of a band she liked were interviewed.
The chapter on Forks was kind of interesting and since I am not a huge Twilight fanatic (contrary to the theme you've seen in my current posts, eh?) I didn't know a lot of what was summarized here. That said, I don't really feel like I know that much more about Meyer than I did before.
The really ironic thing was that the author kept pointing out that the media just spent their time asking her questions about the book's inspiration (a dream she had, which I did know before reading this) and about her plans to continue the Twilight saga, but he does the same thing.
Wouldn't recommend except for the biggest fan geeks :-) D
This book doesn't really give much insight into Meyer, since it is based mostly on online "interviews" and research. Some primary research was conducted I guess - I think that a few people who peripherally knew her - like a college writing professor and a member of a band she liked were interviewed.
The chapter on Forks was kind of interesting and since I am not a huge Twilight fanatic (contrary to the theme you've seen in my current posts, eh?) I didn't know a lot of what was summarized here. That said, I don't really feel like I know that much more about Meyer than I did before.
The really ironic thing was that the author kept pointing out that the media just spent their time asking her questions about the book's inspiration (a dream she had, which I did know before reading this) and about her plans to continue the Twilight saga, but he does the same thing.
Wouldn't recommend except for the biggest fan geeks :-) D
April 14, 2015
Having being translated into 38 languages around the globe, her series has sold 120 million copies worldwide. Her fourth book “Breaking Dawn” had sold a record of 1.3 million copies on the first day alone. She is none other than Stephenie Meyer, the author of the much acclaimed “Twilight” series.
Read the full review here - http://www.bookgeeks.in/entries/forei...
Read the full review here - http://www.bookgeeks.in/entries/forei...
August 10, 2026
The Unauthorized Biography of the Twilight Saga: Stephanie Meyer by Marc Shapiro is exactly what it is.
But this is the breakdown: Goodreads says that there are 220 something pages but in my book (not counting the advertisements in the final pages) is only 212 pages if you count the one page dedicated to the author.
The book discusses Stephanie Meyer's life prior to writing Twilight. Also discussing the writing career, the film production and the shifting of directors for the films. The rumors and publicity stunts that pop up throughout the whole process. The upcoming books and the leaks of chapters as well as scripts. The backstory of her life including schooling and where she went to school. Talks about Forks Washington and how over time the books have made that place popular. There is also discussion of books that were published that were not made by Stephanie Meyer but it does involve the Twilight Saga which is why this author decided to put that information in because it is imperative that we know what the publishing company was doing to ensure that the fans of Twilight still got their Twilight fix without putting too much stress on Stephanie Meyer. There is also a lot of talk about how the fans address certain situations that in my personal opinion they should not have any thing to do with. Opinions are just opinions they are not facts, we all have the right to opinions especially over the things that we read and that we watch and fans should not be little or berate someone because their opinions differ from what they feel.
Here are the pages break down: page 1 to 120 is mostly about Myers life, her anxiety, the beginning productions of Twilight, and her family. Pages 120 and 121 are actually broken up because of the four pages of pictures that are included that show forks that show behind the scenes and even show the author smiling. From pages 121 to 201 are the main story. Pages 202 to 204 is the bibliography which shows when the books came out as well as the filmography dates. From pages 205 to 207 or mostly the breakdown of artists that Stephanie Meyer had used during her writing process as a muse. From pages 209 to 211 is basically a thank you note from the author however they write it as a source because they list all of the websites that they had gone on as well as people that they had interviewed.
There are a total of nine chapters in 12 size font double spaced and 1-inch margins. This read is for everyone mostly geared towards teenagers and young adults because of the discussion of Twilight and her whole series. There is also mention of sex however there is no graphic content it is just discussed because of Breaking Dawn. There is also a lot of talk of religion specifically Mormon religion because that is how Stephanie Meyer grew up. The book is well written but there are several times where it does feel like certain passages have been reiterated too many times. The vocabulary that is used is average and most of the story is easy to understand par a few moments of company workings such as summit entertainment and little brown company. The reason why you might not understand what they are discussing is because we do not always get to see behind the scenes of how things are done and this book does a very good job of explaining it in ways that you can understand it just might take a little bit longer to understand them.
But this is the breakdown: Goodreads says that there are 220 something pages but in my book (not counting the advertisements in the final pages) is only 212 pages if you count the one page dedicated to the author.
The book discusses Stephanie Meyer's life prior to writing Twilight. Also discussing the writing career, the film production and the shifting of directors for the films. The rumors and publicity stunts that pop up throughout the whole process. The upcoming books and the leaks of chapters as well as scripts. The backstory of her life including schooling and where she went to school. Talks about Forks Washington and how over time the books have made that place popular. There is also discussion of books that were published that were not made by Stephanie Meyer but it does involve the Twilight Saga which is why this author decided to put that information in because it is imperative that we know what the publishing company was doing to ensure that the fans of Twilight still got their Twilight fix without putting too much stress on Stephanie Meyer. There is also a lot of talk about how the fans address certain situations that in my personal opinion they should not have any thing to do with. Opinions are just opinions they are not facts, we all have the right to opinions especially over the things that we read and that we watch and fans should not be little or berate someone because their opinions differ from what they feel.
Here are the pages break down: page 1 to 120 is mostly about Myers life, her anxiety, the beginning productions of Twilight, and her family. Pages 120 and 121 are actually broken up because of the four pages of pictures that are included that show forks that show behind the scenes and even show the author smiling. From pages 121 to 201 are the main story. Pages 202 to 204 is the bibliography which shows when the books came out as well as the filmography dates. From pages 205 to 207 or mostly the breakdown of artists that Stephanie Meyer had used during her writing process as a muse. From pages 209 to 211 is basically a thank you note from the author however they write it as a source because they list all of the websites that they had gone on as well as people that they had interviewed.
There are a total of nine chapters in 12 size font double spaced and 1-inch margins. This read is for everyone mostly geared towards teenagers and young adults because of the discussion of Twilight and her whole series. There is also mention of sex however there is no graphic content it is just discussed because of Breaking Dawn. There is also a lot of talk of religion specifically Mormon religion because that is how Stephanie Meyer grew up. The book is well written but there are several times where it does feel like certain passages have been reiterated too many times. The vocabulary that is used is average and most of the story is easy to understand par a few moments of company workings such as summit entertainment and little brown company. The reason why you might not understand what they are discussing is because we do not always get to see behind the scenes of how things are done and this book does a very good job of explaining it in ways that you can understand it just might take a little bit longer to understand them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2025
This book is not a story about sparkly vampire; although it discusses TWILIGHT in a broad sense, it does not rehash the story or its characters. Instead, it is a finely written biography of the author herself. For those who relish anything and everything related to this series, you'll want to pick up a copy of this book. Although I enjoyed it, my only issue with it was that everything written by Mr. Shapiro is a matter of public knowledge. You won't find anything new in this biography because it's unauthorized, and the author never interviewed Ms. Meyer for the book.
September 6, 2021
Przeczytać biografię tej kobiety to rzecz niezwykła. Stephanie Meyer nie jest pisarką, która napisała kilkadziesiąt powieści. Wręcz przeciwnie napisała ich kilka, za to takie, które zapewniły jej miejsce w światowej czołówce zaraz za Panią Rowling. I pomyśleć, ze książki o wampirach napisała głęboko religijna mormonka...Tylko w Ameryce!!!
November 9, 2017
Interesting facts all taken from previous interviews from other sources. Gaps filled in by speculation. Author is proficient in cliché. Lots of grammatical errors. Wonder if book was self edited. grrr.
May 20, 2018
While It was interesting to read about Stephenie, the author literally took other peoples questions and answers about her and made a book about it. Nothing original in this book. Everything could be found on the Internet.
May 27, 2022
marc i don't think...... you should be a writer 🧍♀️
October 19, 2022
the only at least quite interesting chapter is the last one, generally i ask myself constantly whose idea was that this book should exist
August 14, 2023
Adorei saber mais sobre a autora e sua vida por tras das cameras. É gratificamente saber mais sobre quem ela é. O livro tem uma leitura suave que te prende do começo ao fim.
December 24, 2009
Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com
I can pretty much guarantee that nearly everyone on the planet knows who Stephenie Meyer is. With the runaway success of all things TWILIGHT related, everyone from grade schoolers, to teens, to grown, married women with their own children have fallen for all things having to do with Bella and Edward.
Marc Shapiro, author of numerous other biographies and works of non-fiction, has turned his attention to the author of this wildly successful and entertaining series. Please note, this book is not a story about your favorite sparkly vampire; although it discusses TWILIGHT in a broad sense, it does not rehash the story or its characters. Instead, it is a finely written biography of the author herself.
Stephenie Meyer has stated numerous times that the story of TWILIGHT began with a dream. I know we're all wishing that our own dreams would make us multi-millionaires, but I hasten to add that you shouldn't hold out hope for that to happen! The greatest thing about the author, at least to me, is that throughout the craziness since the publication of the first book and the subsequent release of the two movies, Ms. Meyer has managed to keep the same quiet, understated lifestyle that she had before the screaming and fainting began.
For those who relish anything and everything related to this series, you'll want to pick up a copy of this book. Although I enjoyed it, my only issue with it was that everything written by Mr. Shapiro is a matter of public knowledge. You won't find anything new in this biography - most likely because it's unauthorized, and the author never interviewed Ms. Meyer for the book.
Fans, though, will like having all of the information in one easy-to-read and keep format.
I can pretty much guarantee that nearly everyone on the planet knows who Stephenie Meyer is. With the runaway success of all things TWILIGHT related, everyone from grade schoolers, to teens, to grown, married women with their own children have fallen for all things having to do with Bella and Edward.
Marc Shapiro, author of numerous other biographies and works of non-fiction, has turned his attention to the author of this wildly successful and entertaining series. Please note, this book is not a story about your favorite sparkly vampire; although it discusses TWILIGHT in a broad sense, it does not rehash the story or its characters. Instead, it is a finely written biography of the author herself.
Stephenie Meyer has stated numerous times that the story of TWILIGHT began with a dream. I know we're all wishing that our own dreams would make us multi-millionaires, but I hasten to add that you shouldn't hold out hope for that to happen! The greatest thing about the author, at least to me, is that throughout the craziness since the publication of the first book and the subsequent release of the two movies, Ms. Meyer has managed to keep the same quiet, understated lifestyle that she had before the screaming and fainting began.
For those who relish anything and everything related to this series, you'll want to pick up a copy of this book. Although I enjoyed it, my only issue with it was that everything written by Mr. Shapiro is a matter of public knowledge. You won't find anything new in this biography - most likely because it's unauthorized, and the author never interviewed Ms. Meyer for the book.
Fans, though, will like having all of the information in one easy-to-read and keep format.
March 26, 2023
So insightful to learn about Stephenie, but fairly dry at times to read.
October 16, 2013
A very interesting biography but the author overall didn't do as good a job as he could have done.
In fact to be honest in a way he put me off the author due to HIS cutting comments within the book.
The thing that really rankled with me was his TOTALLY blatant slating of the work of L . J Smith who I'm a huge fan of and to be perfectly honest in my opinion is the far superior writer.
At one point he says of Smith's Vampire diaries that "you know what they say about the sincerest form of flattery." and "that the books were REPORTEDLY written before Meyer's."
The earliest copy i personally have of a Vampire diary novel is 1991 which I THINK trumps the age of Meyer's work of 2005!!!
If i was Smith i would have been very hurt by Shapiro's accusations of plagiarism and would have taken the matter further.
So though at times interesting the author's sarcastic attitude to other peoples work in the same field for me has put me off the books and the author when i did in all honesty enjoy the novels for what they were, a good read.
If you are going to document the life of a person i truly believe you should have no bias in the information as that is not then fairly giving a true reflection on the person or topic involved.
A really good read but was soured a lot by the author's castigating attitude.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion and i appreciate that there will of course be Meyer / Smith factions as they deal with the same genre of stories but this wasn't a report of facts and information on the biographer's part it was an outright attack.
In fact to be honest in a way he put me off the author due to HIS cutting comments within the book.
The thing that really rankled with me was his TOTALLY blatant slating of the work of L . J Smith who I'm a huge fan of and to be perfectly honest in my opinion is the far superior writer.
At one point he says of Smith's Vampire diaries that "you know what they say about the sincerest form of flattery." and "that the books were REPORTEDLY written before Meyer's."
The earliest copy i personally have of a Vampire diary novel is 1991 which I THINK trumps the age of Meyer's work of 2005!!!
If i was Smith i would have been very hurt by Shapiro's accusations of plagiarism and would have taken the matter further.
So though at times interesting the author's sarcastic attitude to other peoples work in the same field for me has put me off the books and the author when i did in all honesty enjoy the novels for what they were, a good read.
If you are going to document the life of a person i truly believe you should have no bias in the information as that is not then fairly giving a true reflection on the person or topic involved.
A really good read but was soured a lot by the author's castigating attitude.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion and i appreciate that there will of course be Meyer / Smith factions as they deal with the same genre of stories but this wasn't a report of facts and information on the biographer's part it was an outright attack.
June 27, 2014
If you're curious about Stephenie Meyer and things she's said in interviews, this book will save you some time, as the author has put together a lot of the information that's out there. True, you could search for it yourself for free, but if you're short on time, this works.
Sometimes the book seems to contradict itself. Stephenie wouldn't watch Lost Boys because of the violence, but she would read Anne Rice. She won't read or write sex scenes, but then she wrote Breaking Dawn and The Host. Some of the book is based on opinion since its unauthorized.
Overall, informative and nice info from her old college professor. Maybe someday they'll be an official biography or autobiography to clear up the contradictions.
Sometimes the book seems to contradict itself. Stephenie wouldn't watch Lost Boys because of the violence, but she would read Anne Rice. She won't read or write sex scenes, but then she wrote Breaking Dawn and The Host. Some of the book is based on opinion since its unauthorized.
Overall, informative and nice info from her old college professor. Maybe someday they'll be an official biography or autobiography to clear up the contradictions.
October 31, 2015
This book was okay. I find the story of Stephenie Meyer and Twilight completely fascinating. My problem was that the book felt like a bunch of magazine articles pieced together. It never goes beneath the surface. The only person the author seems to have interviewed himself is Meyer's former creative writing teacher. The magazine quotes are often cited with their source right in the text, which made me feel an even greater distance from the events. I would have left the sources in footnotes or a bibliography. I haven't read many unauthorized biographies, so maybe this is par for the course.
I did learn a lot about Meyer. She seems like such a cool, down-to-earth person. Who knew she directed a music video?
I did learn a lot about Meyer. She seems like such a cool, down-to-earth person. Who knew she directed a music video?
August 24, 2010
Pretty much learned the whole story in the first chapter but there were a few things I learned about Stephenie in this book. Did you know she directed a music video? Well she did. Frankly her whole "playlist" while writing seems a little fake (or just for publicity)- as does some other things. But there is a following so why not milk the cow while you got it?
I'm happy for her success (and that she "found her creative outlet") and enjoy most of the original (4) Twilight series. I just can't believe the almost cultish following she (and Twilight) have - a little crazy if you ask me.
I'm happy for her success (and that she "found her creative outlet") and enjoy most of the original (4) Twilight series. I just can't believe the almost cultish following she (and Twilight) have - a little crazy if you ask me.
October 12, 2010
Well this was not particularly well written. It does a good job of recapping the creative process which led to her success and creating a cultural phenomenon based on all of Stephanie's interviews (print, television & blog). Not alot of orginal content included. I am interested int he writing process and the studio deal for the movies so it was worth my time. I would not recommend this book to an avid reader. SO it was good for me.
June 7, 2010
Smoothly-written compilation & speculation from interviews on Meyer's journey as a bestselling author. Lovely pictures of her, she can be in the movies herself! Neat she also had the chance to direct a music-video a little bit, and wonder about her forays into the Dungeons and Dragons mythos. Interesting to consider her personal theology with her process and success.
March 12, 2010
The subtitle should have been warning enough, but let's just say I was in a weird mood when I saw this at the library and checked it out. Anyone who has read her books and assorted websites about them will already know just about everything in there.
December 8, 2012
I liked this biography of Stephenie Meyer. Oddly enough, I read it before reading the Twilight Saga. The book accurately describes the way Stephenie wrote her books. But it isn't a full biography because we see little or none of her childhood and growing-up years.
January 23, 2013
The book didn't really show much of Stephenie's childhood or her life before writing Twilight. Also, most of the information was nothing fans haven't heard before. Most of the quotes and facts were simply taken from interviews, which made it kind of boring.
April 16, 2010
It's so interesting to me to read about where the ideas came from. How the books came to be. Sorry, Aunt Julie, I really like her books.
May 5, 2010
very good info, awesome bio!!
Read
December 26, 2011I bought this book only because I needed it for a biography assignment, not because I actually want to read it...
March 5, 2014
You learn slot about the lady behind the story.You learn how twilight came to be.How such a significant story became a legend how it became so awesome.
January 4, 2015
Meh...that's about the sum of it. It's written alright, but it is merely a compilation of interviews and articles about Stephenie or by Stephenie. Nothing really new and nothing in depth.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews