Author Daniel Wallace!

Welcome to a SPECIAL EDITION of the Piece of Advice Newsletter!

Good morning! Today we are looking into the work of an incredible  author, Daniel Wallace! I was even lucky enough to ask him a few questions!

Daniel Wallace is best known as the author of “Big Fish”, the 1998 novel that became both a Broadway musical and a 2003 Tim Burton film. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1959, Wallace’s path to writing was far from straightforward; he worked in a variety of jobs, from an illustrator to a stint in the corporate world, before fully dedicating himself to storytelling. His Southern upbringing and eye for tall tales gave his writing a unique voice, blending the magical with the everyday, which became the hallmark of his most famous work.

“Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions” tells the story of a son trying to piece together the larger-than-life tales of his dying father. Its mix of whimsy, folklore, and heartfelt emotion struck a chord with readers and later with moviegoers, when Tim Burton’s adaptation brought Edward Bloom’s adventures to the big screen. Wallace went on to write several more novels, including “Ray in Reverse”, “The Watermelon King”, and “The Kings and Queens of Roam”, each exploring themes of family, memory, and the blurry line between truth and myth. He also illustrated books and continued to weave in humor and eccentricity in his works.

Beyond his books, Wallace has left a mark on both literature and teaching. He has served as a professor of English at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, guiding young writers while continuing his own creative pursuits. Fun fact: Wallace originally trained as an artist, and his sense of visual storytelling often shapes his prose. While “Big Fish” remains his most enduring cultural contribution, his broader body of work reflects his fascination with how stories define people’s lives. Today, he is celebrated as a Southern voice who reimagined the tall tale for a modern audience.

Bonus Questions:

Giancarlo: Who was your favorite author growing up?

Daniel: H.G. Wells.

Giancarlo: Did you have any push back from friends and family on wanting to be a writer? 

Daniel: My father did not want me to, but my mother did. He wanted me to get a more stable job.

Giancarlo: Which of your books are you the most proud of?

Daniel: Big Fish.

Piece Of Advice:

Giancarlo: What is this best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Daniel: Try not to worry so much.

Check out his work: https://danielwallace.org/

Thank you for reading! Have an amazing day and we will catch you again on Monday!

-Giancarlo