Gayle Forman Biography 2024 - New York Times Bestselling Author

Gayle Forman Biography - New York Times Bestselling Author

Gayle Forman is an American young adult fiction author best known for her novel If I Stay. Image Source: Gayle Forman Instagram.

Gayle Forman is a name that requires no introduction. Author of the New York Times bestselling novel If I Stay, Forman has encouraged many to follow their passions and aspirations. And while most people have known her to be a successful author, her journey has not been without its difficulties.

Having begun her career as an author when she was 34, Forman formally wanted to pursue a career as a doctor and pursue a degree in biology and chemistry. So, how did the novelist make the jump from wanting to be a doctor to becoming the world's most sought-after author?

Let's find out today in Gayle Forman's biography, where we take a look at her career and personal life. 

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Gayle Forman Had A Normal Upbringing. 

Born on June 5, 1970, Gayle Forman was raised by her parents in Los Angeles, California, alongside two siblings. Growing up in a suburban home, the author had a rather ordinary upbringing. However, Forman's parents were very much into traveling, and consequently, the family traveled a lot.

For instance, when Gayle was a child, the family took a six-week journey to Israel and Romania. She was accompanied by her two siblings one of whom is Gregory S. Forman, a lawyer.

Like most writers, Forman grew up with a wild and vivid imagination. And, strangely, she wanted to be the Sun once she grew up. Of course, the writer was devastated when she discovered that this was not a viable professional option.

Subsequently, she continued to seek other feasible alternatives, and ironically, being a writer was not one of them.

Gayle Forman's Childhood.

Forman grew up with a wild and vivid imagination and would often make up stories in her head as a result of her active upbringing. Image Source: Gayle Forman Facebook.

Nonetheless, Forman's family did not have access to the internet or cable television when she was a child. Her parents pushed her to do activities like hiking on weekends. Naturally, the author got bored and found the only way to survive was to retreat into her imagination and makeup stories. Still, her writing career began much later.

At present, Gayle is renowned as an Award-winning author and journalist, having written several bestselling novels. So, Forman's parents and siblings must be exceptionally proud of her achievements.

Education and Begining of Forman's Journalism Career

Forman went to the University of Oregon to study medicine after high school and majored in biology and chemistry. However, her career choice to study medicine did not fuel her passion, and subsequently, she began to explore her options in college.

On one such occasion, Forman took a journalism class during her sophomore year. The writer fell in love with journalism right away and transferred to the School of Journalism and Communications, and her journey to become a novelist began shortly after.

Gayle Forman Net Worth and Career

Gayle Forman has established herself as an inspiring adult author with her works' core themes of love, death, sacrifice, and transformation, which are brought to life through fictitious characters and ideas. However, apart from gaining a permanent place in the hearts of millions, Forman has accumulated substantial wealth via her work.

Here, let us take a look at Gayle Forman's net worth and her earnings sources.

Forman's Income As A Journalist

As previously said, once Forman got a taste of journalism, she couldn't get enough of it. Forman began her journalism career writing for Seventeen magazine, with most of her pieces focusing on young people's problems, gender justice, female equality, and social issues.

Gayle traveled extensively as a journalist, contributing to publications such as Details, Cosmopolitan, The Nation, The New York Times, Elle Magazine, and Jane. However, the traveling took its strain on her and her family after a while, and she decided to adopt a more practical approach to writing, which she did when she penned her first book.

Gayle Forman's Net Worth

Gayle Forman worked as a journalist for major publishing houses before becoming an author, therefore she must have collected millions in revenue. Image Source: Gayle Forman Facebook.

Nonetheless, the Brooklyn native spent the first several years of her career as a journalist for well-known publishing houses. So naturally, Gayle Forman's fortune must have improved tremendously as a journalist.

Similarly, Brenda Ladun, Phil Bronstein, and Josh Barro are among other well-known individuals who make a living as journalists.

Gayle's Earnings As An Author

In 2005, Gayle Forman made her debut as an author with the travelogue You Can't Get There from Here: A Year on the Fringes of a Shrinking World. She then moved on to write novels, and on September 1, 2007, she published Sisters in Sanity, a young adult novel based on an article she had written while working as a journalist for Seventeen. The hardcover currently sells for $7.21, while the Kindle version is $4.99.

Forman then published 'If I Stay,' her second and best-selling novel, in 2009. The book went on to be on The New York Times and USA Today's bestseller lists. Furthermore, by now has been translated into over 40 languages and has sold over 2.4 million copies. 

Furthermore, in 2014, it was adapted into a major motion picture, which made over $78.9 million in the box office. So it's safe to assume that Gayle's earnings from this book and movie alone must be in the millions.

The author published Where She Went, a sequel to the book, following the novel's success in November 2010. However, no news of the sequel being adapted into a movie has ever surfaced.

Gayle has since then published a handful of books and established herself as one of the best authors globally. The following are some of her other books, along with their prices as listed on Amazon: 

Title Kindle  Hardcover
I was Here $6.99 $13.48
Just One Year $7.99 $17.94
Just One Day $6.99 $16.34
Just One Night $1.99 -
We Are Inevitable  $10.99 $13.28
Leave Me: A Novel $9.99 $37.99
I Have Lost My Way $9.99 $10.91

In addition, her most recent work, Frankie & Bug, was released on October 12, 2021, and is available on Amazon for only $10.9 for the Kindle version. Millions around the world have loved the book. So, with all of the sales of her books and her career as an author, Gayle Forman's net worth must have increased significantly.

Nonetheless, the novelist has a long way to go and will continue to publish best-selling books in the future. So, for the time being, we wish the author the best of luck in her future endeavors.

Forman Is Married and A Mother of Two

The author has been in the mainstream media for most of her life. So naturally, many are interested in knowing more about Forman's love life and personal relationships. And, unlike other celebrities, the If I Stay author has been open and honest about her love life and children.

Anyone well acquainted with Gayle Forman knows that she has been happily married to Nick Tucker for many years. As per Forman herself, the pair have been together for around 30 years.

Gayle Forman's husband appears to be a musician and a librarian, so the smitten couple might have bonded over their love for books. In addition, the characters in Forman's writings, including her best-selling novel If I Stay, are frequently influenced by her husband's nature.

Moreover, in their 25 years of togetherness, they have welcomed a daughter Willa Tucker. In addition, the author also has an Ethiopian daughter, Denbele, whom she adopted. But, while the writer brags on Instagram about her family, her children and spouse prefer a life away from the spotlight.

Gayle Forman's Husband

Gayle Forman has been together with her husband for around 30 years and is the mother of two children, including one she adopted. Image Source: Gayle Forman Facebook.

Consequently, not much is known about the whereabouts of Gayle Forman's children and spouse. Despite this, the family can be seen traveling across the world and having a good time while filming funny videos.

So, for the time being, we wish the author and her family the best and hope to see more of the author's family as time goes on.

Trivia and Facts

  • Forman owns a cat named Gigi.
  • Gayle is not a musician, even though most of her book's subjects revolve around music. 
  • The author considered becoming a flight attendant as a child. 

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