- Steven Pressfield was born in September 1943 in Port of Spain, Trinidad, British West Indies [now Trinidad and Tobago]. He is a writer, known for Above the Law (1988), The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000) and Freejack (1992).
- His first job when he moved to New York City was as a $150-a-week copy writer for Benton & Bowles. One day while rewriting the just-add-water text for the back label of Gravy Train dog food he asked himself, 'Shouldn't I be doing something a little more worthwhile?' He decided to quit and write a novel.
- His novel The Leggend of Bagger Vance is based on the ancient Hindu text the Bhagavad Gita ("The Song of God"). In that story the Indian warrior Arjuna, loses his confidence on the battlefield and is counseled by Krishna.
- Has written 34 screenplays, six of which have been filmed [as of 2007].
- In September 2003, the city of Sparta (Greece) made him an honorary citizen.
- Currently working on his next novel, which is set in North Africa during World War II.
- On reading manuscripts by unpublished writers: "If you want to send a manuscript, send it to an agent. And send a letter first, asking permission. Launch it into the real world of cold-blooded commercial response, not into the fantasyland of wishful thinking, cowardice and surrender to Resistance."
- On giving advice to young writers: "Three steps. First, take Robert McKee's three-day course: Story. He gives it in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Dallas, London, everywhere... Second, read my book, 'The War of Art.' Third, sit down and do it and don't quit no matter what. P.S. If you do Step Three, you can skip One and Two."
- The hardest thing about being a Doctor is keeping a straight face.
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