CLIVE CUSSLER | Press Releases

Best-Selling Author Clive Cussler Celebrates 70th Birthday Quietly with Family

PHOENIX, AZ—Long acknowledged as the Grand Master of the action adventure novel and considered by his fans to be the inspiration for his continuing series hero, Dirk Pitt®, Clive Cussler is celebrating his birthday quietly this weekend with his wife, Barbara, and family. In November, the author plans to really mark his 70th when his friend, Jeffrey M. Taffet, M.D., takes him skydiving to celebrate. The author is far from slowing down professionally either. August 13th everyone's favorite hero, Dirk Pitt®, returns in Valhalla Rising, a virtual E-ticket ride. Cussler, author of 17 consecutive New York Times bestsellers, has long since proven himself one of the world's favorite authors. "...A master of intricate, audacious plotting and vibrant, rollicking narrative..." Chicago Tribune. "...Cussler spins his tale with such seamless ease that you're left breathless. Cussler is just about the best storyteller in the business..." New York Post. "...Dirk Pitt is a combination James Bond and Jacques Cousteau, and his adventures are full of get to the next page excitement..." New York Daily News. Cussler will begin a limited book tour for Valhalla Rising August 13th in New York.

The release of Valhalla Rising would be enough to keep most authors half his age busy but Cussler is putting the finishing touches on The Sea Hunters II, his second non-fiction novel. This book chronicles the real-life adventures of the National Underwater & Marine Agency (NUMA), the 501c3 non-profit he founded in 1979 to preserve maritime history. For more information on NUMA, check the award winning web site, www.numa.net. The Sea Hunters spent 14 weeks on the New York Times non-fiction best-seller list and earned Cussler a doctorate. The Board of Governors of the Maritime College, State University of New York considered The Sea Hunters in lieu of a Ph.D. thesis and awarded Cussler a Doctor of Letters degree in May 1997. It was the first time since the College was founded in 1874 that such a degree was bestowed. Sea Hunters II should be published early in 2002. Cussler is also working on another NUMA Files adventure and yet another spin-off series.

Clive Cussler Celebrates 70th Birthday: No Sign of Slowdown

In addition to his writing, Cussler is working on the production of Clive Cussler's: The Sea Hunters, a TV series based on his best-selling non-fiction. Produced by Canada's Eco-Nova (Oceans of Mystery), the program has been sold to more than 100 countries and will air in the United States on National Geographic. It is slated to begin airing early in 2002.

After turning down Hollywood offers for years, Cussler finally signed with Crusader Entertainment in May, authorizing the film production company to produce Sahara and two others of Cussler's best sellers. Paramount will distribute the films. Cussler retained script, casting and directorial approval so he has been working hard on the Sahara script as well.

In addition to that, he is still working with his real-life NUMA crew. NUMA and Cussler were honored last August when the CSS Hunley, the first submarine to sink a ship in battle, was raised from her watery grave four miles off the coast of Charleston, SC and returned intact to the Charleston Naval Ship yard. Cussler and his crew found the Hunley May 3, 1995, more than 131 years after she sunk the U.S. frigate Housatonic in February, 1864.

Publisher's Weekly writes, "Clive Cussler has no equal..." That is an understatement.

Cussler divides his time between the mountains of Colorado in the summer and the deserts of Arizona in the fall, winter and spring. Valhalla Rising will be released in hardcover and audio (tape and CD) in the United States and Canada by G.P. Putnam & Sons August 13th.







			13 July 2001 Best-Selling Author Clive Cussler Celebrates 70th Birthday Quietly with Family PHOENIX, AZ—Long acknowledged as the Grand Master of the action adventure novel and considered by his fans to be the inspiration for his continuing series hero, Dirk Pitt®, Clive Cussler is celebrating his birthday quietly this weekend with his wife, Barbara, and family. In November, the author plans to really mark his 70th when his friend, Jeffrey M. Taffet, M.D., takes him skydiving to celebrate. The author is far from slowing down professionally either. August 13th everyone's favorite hero, Dirk Pitt®, returns in Valhalla Rising, a virtual E-ticket ride. Cussler, author of 17 consecutive New York Times bestsellers, has long since proven himself one of the world's favorite authors. "...A master of intricate, audacious plotting and vibrant, rollicking narrative..." Chicago Tribune. "...Cussler spins his tale with such seamless ease that you're left breathless. Cussler is just about the best storyteller in the business..." New York Post. "...Dirk Pitt is a combination James Bond and Jacques Cousteau, and his adventures are full of get to the next page excitement..." New York Daily News. Cussler will begin a limited book tour for Valhalla Rising August 13th in New York. The release of Valhalla Rising would be enough to keep most authors half his age busy but Cussler is putting the finishing touches on The Sea Hunters II, his second non-fiction novel. This book chronicles the real-life adventures of the National Underwater & Marine Agency (NUMA), the 501c3 non-profit he founded in 1979 to preserve maritime history. For more information on NUMA, check the award winning web site, www.numa.net. The Sea Hunters spent 14 weeks on the New York Times non-fiction best-seller list and earned Cussler a doctorate. The Board of Governors of the Maritime College, State University of New York considered The Sea Hunters in lieu of a Ph.D. thesis and awarded Cussler a Doctor of Letters degree in May 1997. It was the first time since the College was founded in 1874 that such a degree was bestowed. Sea Hunters II should be published early in 2002. Cussler is also working on another NUMA Files adventure and yet another spin-off series. Clive Cussler Celebrates 70th Birthday: No Sign of Slowdown In addition to his writing, Cussler is working on the production of Clive Cussler's: The Sea Hunters, a TV series based on his best-selling non-fiction. Produced by Canada's Eco-Nova (Oceans of Mystery), the program has been sold to more than 100 countries and will air in the United States on National Geographic. It is slated to begin airing early in 2002. After turning down Hollywood offers for years, Cussler finally signed with Crusader Entertainment in May, authorizing the film production company to produce Sahara and two others of Cussler's best sellers. Paramount will distribute the films. Cussler retained script, casting and directorial approval so he has been working hard on the Sahara script as well. In addition to that, he is still working with his real-life NUMA crew. NUMA and Cussler were honored last August when the CSS Hunley, the first submarine to sink a ship in battle, was raised from her watery grave four miles off the coast of Charleston, SC and returned intact to the Charleston Naval Ship yard. Cussler and his crew found the Hunley May 3, 1995, more than 131 years after she sunk the U.S. frigate Housatonic in February, 1864. Publisher's Weekly writes, "Clive Cussler has no equal..." That is an understatement. Cussler divides his time between the mountains of Colorado in the summer and the deserts of Arizona in the fall, winter and spring. Valhalla Rising will be released in hardcover and audio (tape and CD) in the United States and Canada by G.P. Putnam & Sons August 13th.