One of the contemporary world's best-selling literary novelists, John Irving saw two quality film adaptations and one abomination made of his work before debuting as screenwriter of "The Cider House Rules" (1999), which he adapted from his own novel. The New Hampshire native took a tip from his high school wrestling coach Ted Seabrooke who told him that "talent is overrated. That you're not very talented needn't be the end of it." Counting himself neither a born athlete nor a born writer, Irving resolved to work that much harder, excelling first as a wrestler and triumphing over dyslexia to
Grew up a faculty brat in Exeter, New Hampshire, home of the prestigious Phillips Exeter Academy; became a bookworm despite his dyslexia as well as developed life-long passion for wrestling
1967
Worked as English instructor at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts
1968
First novel published, "Setting Free the Bears"
Initial foray in moviemaking, worked with director Irvin Kershner on screen adaptation of "Setting Free the Bears"; film never made
