MITCH ALBOM is the author of nine
books, including the newest, “For
One More Day”, published 9/26/06. His first
novel, \"The Five
People You Meet in
Heaven\", (9/03) is the most successful U.S. hardback first novel
ever and has to
date sold over 8 million copies worldwide \"Tuesdays With Morrie,\" (1997) his chronicle of
time spent with a beloved but dying
college professor, spent
four years on the
NY Times bestsellers
list and is now the most successful memoir ever published. Both books were eventually turned into celebrated TV films. The critically acclaimed “Five People You Meet in Heaven” aired on ABC in
winter, 2004.
Oprah Winfrey produced the film version of \"Tuesdays With Morrie\" in December 1999; starring
Jack Lemmon and
Hank Azaria. The film garnered four Emmy awards, including
best TV film, director,
actor and supporting actor. An award-winning journalist and
radio host, Albom wrote the screenplay for \"The Five People You Meet in Heaven,\" and is an established
playwright, having authored numerous
pieces for the theater, including the off-Broadway version of “Tuesdays With Morrie” (co-written with
Jeffrey Hatcher) which has seen more than 40 productions
nationwide, and several recent comedies which have been produced and performed in venues across the
country. Albom has founded three charities in the metropolitan
Detroit area: \"
The Dream Fund,\" established in 1989, allows disadvantaged children to become involved with the arts. \"A
Time To
Help,\" founded in 1998, brings volunteers together once a month to tackle various projects in Detroit, including
staffing shelters, building homes with
Habitat for Humanity, and operating meals on
wheels programs for the elderly. “S.A.Y Detroit,” Albom’s most recent effort, is an umbrella program to fund shelters and care for the homeless in his city. He also raises
money for
literacy projects through a variety of means including his performances with The
Rock Bottom Remainders, a
band made up of writers which includes Steven
King,
Dave Barry,
Scott Turrow,
Amy Tan and
Ridley Pearson. Albom serves
on the boards of various charities and, in 1999, was named
National Hospice Organization\'s
Man of the Year.