John Steinbeck home in California to attend any performance of the play during its New York run, telling director George S. Kaufman that the play as it existed in his own mind was "perfect" and that anything presented on stage would only be a disappointment. Steinbeck wrote two more stage plays ("The Moon Is Down" and "Burning Bright"). "Of Mice and Men" was also adapted as a 1939 Hollywood film, with Lon Chaney, Jr. as Lennie (he had filled the role in the Los Angeles stage production) and Burgess Meredith as George. Meredith and Steinbeck became close friends for the next two
Thomas Steinbeck Simon & Schuster published his first novel, "In the Shadow of the Cypress". His second novel, "The Silver Lotus", was released in November 2011 by Counterpoint Press. Steinbeck contributed to the "My California Project", a collection of short stories written by 27 California authors. Sales from the book were used to help save the struggling California Arts Council. This book went into three printings, and the project helped the Arts Council to reach its goal of financial solvency. In addition to his writing and producing, Steinbeck was an active public speaker and teacher, who often lectured on American literature, creative