John Steinbeck Salinas, Monterey and parts of the San Joaquin Valley were the setting for many of his stories. The area is now sometimes referred to as "Steinbeck Country". Most of his early work dealt with subjects familiar to him from his formative years. An exception was his first novel, "", which concerns the pirate Henry Morgan, whose adventures had captured Steinbeck's imagination as a child. In his subsequent novels, Steinbeck found a more authentic voice by drawing upon direct memories of his life in California. His childhood friend, Max Wagner, a brother of Jack Wagner and who later became a film
John Townsend (author) John Townsend (author) John Townsend (born June 1, 1952) is an American Christian self help author, business consultant, and psychologist. John Townsend was born in 1952 in Smithfield, North Carolina and grew up in Wilson, North Carolina. Townsend holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology with honors from North Carolina State University, a Master of Theology degree with honors from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a PhD degree in clinical psychology from Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University. Townsend co-founded the Minirth-Meier Clinic West and served as its clinical co-director for ten years. The clinic operated treatment centers in