In concert with earlier noted authors, Mitch Albom is a “man for all seasons”, having started life in journalism and supported his academic studies with work as a babysitter and other nights working as a pianist in the music industry. Originally a sports writer, his column in two Detroit newspapers led to a “Comment” section in the publications that had Sunday editions. These columns dealt with American life and values, matters which subsequently formed the subject matter of his works of fiction and non-fiction.

Albom’s initial foray into prose, after sports writing, focused on biographical notes dealing with football and basketball. Then, in 1995, after watching an interview on television with his old sociology professor, Morrie Schwartz Albom felt guilty about not maintaining his relationship with Schwartz. Albom then reconnected with Schwartz, visiting him in Boston and regularly on Tuesdays, discussing issues of life and death (Schwartz was suffering from the terminal illness of Lou Gehrig’s disease). These Tuesday meetings were then chronicled by Albom in the book “Tuesdays with Morrie”, which was ultimately published by Doubleday in 1997. The book ultimately made number one on the bestseller list and was made into a TV movie in 1999, with Jack Lemmon as Morrie. The movie won four Emmy awards and was the most watched TV movie in 1999. The book sold over 20 million copies and was translated into 45 languages.

Subsequent novels dealing with inspirational themes have been both fictional and non- fictional in nature, with the latter based on personal experiences of life, family values and death. “The Five People You Meet In Heaven”, and its sequel “The Next Person You Meet In Heaven”, emphasise how lives and losses intersect and that not only does every life matter, but that every ending is also a new beginning. “For One More Day” explores the question of what you would do if you had one more day with someone you have lost. Albom returns to his non-fiction in “Have a Little Faith”, with conversations with his Rabbi where he grew up.

Albom is an accomplished songwriter, pianist and lyricist. He has appeared in concert with Tony Bennett. His musical experiences gave rise to his fifth novel, “The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto”. This novel describes the journey of a nine year old boy who emigrates from Spain with only an old guitar and six precious strings and his experiences of the 20th century musical landscape from all musical genres and those who practised them.

An author who will get you thinking!!!