John Steinbeck called him a "Giant of American Letters". Despite ongoing attacks on his literary reputation, Steinbeck's works continue to sell well and he is widely taught in American and British schools as a bridge to more complex literature. Works such as "Of Mice and Men" are short and easy to read, and compassionately illustrate universal themes that are still relevant in the 21st century. Steinbeck grew up in California's Salinas Valley, a culturally diverse place with a rich migratory and immigrant history. This upbringing imparted a regionalistic flavor to his writing, giving many of his works a distinct sense of place.
John J. Miller (author) a Fellow of the Society of American Baseball Research (SABR) and is an authority on America's Negro Leagues Baseball of the 20th Century. John J. Miller (author) John Joseph Miller (a.k.a. J.J. Miller, John J. Miller, and John Jos Miller), born 1954 in New York state, is a science fiction author known for his work in the long-running (since 1987) "Wild Cards" shared universe series of original anthologies and novels, edited by George R. R. Martin. He has also published nine novels, and nearly 30 short stories and eight comic book scripts. He also wrote "GURPS Wild Cards", a supplement