Tom Clancy Biography

Fast Facts

• Seventeen of his novels reached number one on the New York Times Best Seller List
• Graduated from Loyola College with a degree in English in 1969
• Was working as an insurance salesman when the Naval Institute Press bought his first novel, "The Hunt for Red October," for $5,000
• Was obsessed with naval history, warfare, espionage, and missile systems from a young age
• Quote: "You learn to write the same way you learn to play golf․․․A lot of people think something mystical happens to you, that maybe the muse kisses you on the ear․ But writing isn't divinely inspired - it's hard work․"
• Founded the video game development company Red Storm Entertainment, which produced several games based on his novels under the series titles "Splinter Cell" and "Rainbow Six․"
• Also wrote the "Study of Command" series, four nonfiction books about the U․S․ military and their campaigns, including "Into the Storm - On the Ground in Iraq" and "Shadow Warriors - Inside the Special Forces․"
• Best known as the author of a number of best-selling crime and thriller novels, including "The Hunt for Red October," "Patriot Games," and "Clear and Present Danger," which were adapted into films
• Achieved success with "The Hunt for Red October" after President Ronald Reagan, who was seen carrying a copy, described it as "my kind of yarn․"
• Despite his extensive knowledge of the military and desire to serve his country, he was unable to join because of his nearsightedness