Garth Stein is a New York Times bestselling author and movie producer, renowned for his work in historical, gothic, comic-of-age novels, and ghost stories. He was born in Los Angeles, California, on December 06, 1964, and spent most of his childhood in Seattle, Washington. Stein's heritage is a blend of cultures, with his father being a native of Brooklyn, the son of a Jewish immigrant from Austria, and his mother coming from Alaska with Irish and Tlingit descent. This cultural mix is reflected in his debut book, 'Raven Stole the Moon.'
Stein earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia University's Columbia College in 1987 and his MA degree in Fine Arts from the Arts School of the same university in 1990. He initially ventured into filmmaking, working as a producer, director, and writer for documentary films, some of which have won prestigious awards. His filmmaking career included producing the 1991 Academy Award winner, 'The Lunch Date,' and co-producing a movie based on the Democratic National Convention of 1992, 'The Last Party.' After his sister underwent brain surgery, he documented the entire process, leading him to direct and produce the documentary. This experience inspired him to shift his focus towards creative writing.
In addition to 'The Art of Racing in the Rain,' Stein has written four novels, including 'A Sudden Light,' 'How Evan Broke His Head and Other Secrets,' and 'Raven Stole the Moon.' He is also the author of the stage play, 'Brother Jones.' Stein is known for his diverse writing style, encompassing various genres from gothic and historical to coming-of-age and ghost stories. He is a co-founder of Seattle7Writers.org, a non-profit collective of 74 Northwest authors working together to promote the reading and writing community. Stein lives in Seattle with his family, and in his spare time, he enjoys the company of his dog, races cars, climbs tall trees, and makes documentary films.