David Morrell was born in 1943, shortly after his father was killed in action. His mother could not both raise him and have a job, so David was sent to an orphange. He went to Pennsylvania State University from 1966-70, where he was inspired by his teacher, writer William Tenn. In 1972 he wrote First Blood (1982), which later became the legendary movie introducing John Rambo played by Sylvester Stallone in 1982. He was a professor of American literature at the University of Iowa and taught from 1970 to 1986, where he resigned. In 1987 he lost his 15 year old son Matthew because of bone cancer. He left Iowa and today he lives with his wife and daughter in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He has written several novels and First Blood is probably the most famous.