Jeff Shaara
Jeff Shaara, a descendant of Italian immigrants was born in 1952 in New Brunswick, New Jersey ("Shaara" was originally spelled "Sciarra"). He grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, and graduated from Florida State University in 1974, with a degree in Criminology. From age 16, Jeff operated a rare coin business, first out of his home, then in a retail store. In 1974, he moved to Tampa, Florida, and the business expanded. Eventually, Florida Coin Exchange became one of the most widely known precious-metals dealers in Florida. In 1988, Jeff's father, Michael Shaara, died, and Jeff made the decision to sell his business, and take over the management of his father's estate.
In 1993, during production of the Turner film "Gettysburg," based on his father's classic novel, The Killer Angels, Jeff became friends with film director Ron Maxwell, who had been close to Michael Shaara for the many years it took to bring The Killer Angels to the screen. After the critical and commercial success of "Gettysburg," Maxwell approached Jeff about the possibility of continuing the story, finding someone to write a prequel and sequel to The Killer Angels. After some considerable soul-searching, Jeff decided to try to tackle the project himself. The decision was difficult in many ways, but most challenging because Jeff had no previous experience as a writer.
Two years later, Ballantine Books published Jeff's first novel, Gods and Generals, the prequel to his father's great work. Two weeks after its debut, Gods and Generals leapt onto the New York Times Bestseller List, and rode a fifteen-week wave as a national bestseller. Critics nationwide praised the book and Jeff's writing ability. No one was more surprised than Jeff himself. In 1998, the sequel, The Last Full Measure, was published, with the same result: Thirteen weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List, and universal praise from critics and fans nationwide.Rise To Rebellion, published in 2001, departs from the Civil War era. It is the first of a two volume story of the American Revolution as seen through the eyes of its key participants, and was also a New York Times bestseller. The concluding volume The Glorious Cause, was released in November, 2002, and once again was a national bestseller.
In February, 2003, the major motion picture "GODS AND GENERALS", based on Jeff's first book, was released by Warner Brothers.
In late October, 2004, Jeff's sixth work, To The Last Man, a novel of the First World War was released by Ballantine. The book received extraordinary praise from notable figures such as General Tommy Franks, Steve Forbes and General Wesley Clark. The book became an immediate national bestseller, and was given the American Library Association's "Boyd" Award for excellence.
For some time, Jeff had been researching a different kind of project, which has now come to fruition. JEFF SHAARA'S CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELDS was published April, 2006, and is a unique look at ten of this country's most valuable pieces of hallowed ground.
Jeff's eighth book, The Rising Tide, was published in November 2006. The story is the first of what will become a trilogy following an extraordinary cast of characters through the European theater of the Second World War. The Rising Tide was again a New York Times bestseller. Jeff is now at work on the centerpiece of the trilogy, following key participants through the Normandy invasion. The book is already scheduled for publication, in June, 2008.
After many years spent in New York City and the mountains of Montana, Jeff has returned to his "home town", and resides once again in Tallahassee, Florida.Jeff Shaara, a descendant of Italian immigrants was born in 1952 in New Brunswick, New Jersey ("Shaara" was originally spelled "Sciarra"). He grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, and graduated from Florida State University in 1974, with a degree in Criminology. From age 16, Jeff operated a rare coin business, first out of his home, then in a retail store. In 1974, he moved to Tampa, Florida, and the business expanded. Eventually, Florida Coin Exchange became one of the most widely known precious-metals dealers in Florida. In 1988, Jeff's father, Michael Shaara, died, and Jeff made the decision to sell his business, and take over the management of his father's estate.
In 1993, during production of the Turner film "Gettysburg," based on his father's classic novel, The Killer Angels, Jeff became friends with film director Ron Maxwell, who had been close to Michael Shaara for the many years it took to bring The Killer Angels to the screen. After the critical and commercial success of "Gettysburg," Maxwell approached Jeff about the possibility of continuing the story, finding someone to write a prequel and sequel to The Killer Angels. After some considerable soul-searching, Jeff decided to try to tackle the project himself. The decision was difficult in many ways, but most challenging because Jeff had no previous experience as a writer.
Two years later, Ballantine Books published Jeff's first novel, Gods and Generals, the prequel to his father's great work. Two weeks after its debut, Gods and Generals leapt onto the New York Times Bestseller List, and rode a fifteen-week wave as a national bestseller. Critics nationwide praised the book and Jeff's writing ability. No one was more surprised than Jeff himself. In 1998, the sequel, The Last Full Measure, was published, with the same result: Thirteen weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List, and universal praise from critics and fans nationwide.Rise To Rebellion, published in 2001, departs from the Civil War era. It is the first of a two volume story of the American Revolution as seen through the eyes of its key participants, and was also a New York Times bestseller. The concluding volume The Glorious Cause, was released in November, 2002, and once again was a national bestseller.
In February, 2003, the major motion picture "GODS AND GENERALS", based on Jeff's first book, was released by Warner Brothers.
In late October, 2004, Jeff's sixth work, To The Last Man, a novel of the First World War was released by Ballantine. The book received extraordinary praise from notable figures such as General Tommy Franks, Steve Forbes and General Wesley Clark. The book became an immediate national bestseller, and was given the American Library Association's "Boyd" Award for excellence.
For some time, Jeff had been researching a different kind of project, which has now come to fruition. JEFF SHAARA'S CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELDS was published April, 2006, and is a unique look at ten of this country's most valuable pieces of hallowed ground.
Jeff's eighth book, The Rising Tide, was published in November 2006. The story is the first of what will become a trilogy following an extraordinary cast of characters through the European theater of the Second World War. The Rising Tide was again a New York Times bestseller. Jeff is now at work on the centerpiece of the trilogy, following key participants through the Normandy invasion. The book is already scheduled for publication, in June, 2008.
After many years spent in New York City and the mountains of Montana, Jeff has returned to his "home town", and resides once again in Tallahassee, Florida.