Monkeying around!

I’m a big fan of the “story behind the story.”

I’m sure you know what I mean. For example, more than 600 million copies of the Harry Potter books have sold worldwide; more than 180 million copies have sold in the U.S. alone. It’s common knowledge now, but I loved learning that the J.K. Rowling’s novel was rejected by 12 different publishing houses before Bloomsbury accepted it. At the time, Rowling’s marriage had failed, she was jobless with a dependent child. The rest as they say is history.

Image by Pexels.

Here’s another story. In 1977 when Star Wars: A New Hope was released, George Lucas was known for writing and directing critically acclaimed American Graffiti two years earlier, which gave him some instant credibility, but film executives were hesitant to risk much on him or his grandiose plans for his next project. Science fiction was considered a low-brow, low-budget genre. No one wanted to bet much on him.

Boy, were they wrong.

The Star Wars series has attracted countless fans, but the story behind the story is how the saga became a pop culture franchise, brought in an estimated $70 billion, and ranks as the fifth highest-grossing franchise of all time. Forty-three years later, Star Wars has offered audiences a wide variety of incredible stories from a galaxy far, far away.

I’ve long been fascinated with the story behind the story, whether it’s a book, song or album, movie, or whatever. It’s the reason I used to love the TV show, Behind the Music, which ran on VH-1 from 1997 to 2014 and currently streams now on Paramount +. Every episode on the show seemed to run a similar pattern: Small-time band works for years behind the scenes; finally gets a break and hits the big time; makes money hand over fist; has its natural downfall (often thanks to drugs or alcohol or gets in trouble with the law or fights over money); has suffered and gone through tough times; and is now trying to make a small comeback with a combination of new and old members. Sound about right?

Image by Pexels.

I can’t explain it, I love the story behind the story.

In my blog post, How a curious little monkey changed the world, on The Heart of the Matter, I write about the story behind the book series Curious George and the struggle Authors Hans and Margret Rey faced. The couple fled Paris by nightfall, fleeing the approaching German Army with the manuscript in their pack and eventually located in New York, where they worked to get their story of a curious little monkey published.

The story behind the story is well worth it. Thank goodness for one crazy little monkey.

Related Story:

How a curious little monkey changed the world

on The Heart of the Matter.

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48 thoughts on “Monkeying around!”

  1. I’d forgotten all about “Behind the Music”. Thanks for that! And I think your ability to see (and search out) the ‘story behind the story’ is one of your writing gifts. 😎😎😎

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    1. I had to look that up about Behind the Music. I thought it was off tv altogether but it’s still on paramount plus. Too funny. I think it was Wynne who wrote about pattern’s recently. I’m not sure I see patterns, but I think I see “morals of the story.” Im able to see one story and see how it connects to another. Does that make sense?

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  2. I’d just finished reading Roots by Alex Haley, but when I got to the back matter, where he revealed the research he did for the novel (even riding in the hold of a ship in his underwear), I realized how much I enjoy backstories!

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    1. Oh, wow, I’m so glad you pointed that out. First I need to go back now and re-read Roots and look at his research. That had to be overwhelming for him. I can only imagine the emotions he was feeling. Yea, backstories to me really are more interesting. Maybe it’s the emotion. I don’t know, I just love knowing more about people’s “why.” Thank you Joy! 🎉

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    1. “Our own back stories give us so much fodder for what we write.” As your series of stories this week proves!!! It’s taken me a long time to see this. The everyday things really are entertaining and interesting to others because they’re going through the same stuff! 😎

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  9. I also enjoy stories about stories, and enjoyed the ones you shared here. But, above all else in this moment? I enjoy that pic of the teeny tiny monkey, which is a truly unfathomable level of adorable.

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  10. The story behind the story are indeed wonderful. Stuff made of legends. Especially that moment of failure before the big successful moment. Often a lot of similarities. And that’s why they grip us all the time.

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    1. Yes, I guess I knew that because my kids were right in that age group when Rowling was releasing the latter works in the Harry Potter series. She was definitely struggling when her manuscript got picked up. Crazy how life works some times.

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  12. Oh my gosh Brian, I remember reading about JK Rowling when Harry Potter was in its hayday. But I too am enthralled by the story behind the story. So often that backstory is as fascinating at the success that comes from it. Great lesson of endurance for the day my friend! 🌞🙏🏼😊

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      2. As I wrote that piece, I was thinking about some of the backstories I’ve read in recent months. A lot of them came to mind. Your post a few months ago on the International African American Museum at Gadsden’s Wharf in Charleston was one of the backstories that jumped out at me. So many stories there . . . If that wharf could talk. Thanks for the piece again and your video. 🙂 🙂

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      3. Oh my goodness Brian, you don’t know how humbled I am that you said that. Yes my friend, as you noted, “If that wharf could talk” there would be many voices from around the world speaking. I am like you my dear friend, backstories are just as interesting to me as the current story. How do you know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been? Continue with your investigative and thought-provoking parables my friend. I appreciate you! 🥰🙏🏼😊💖😍

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  13. I’m with you, I love a good back story! JK Rowling has a podcast out with her full back story and she tells it! I’ve listened to two episodes so far. It’s good. We have a thing out where I live called song writers, and the people that actually write the songs that sell to big names and become hits, tell you why they wrote the song, and they sing their version. It’s always sold out! I agree with atimetoshare, it’s why we write and what we write. Such good stuff here Brian! Hugs, C

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh Cheryl, I love the idea of the song writers event. I’m partial anyway to singer/song writers. When I know a singer wrote the song themselves, I feel like the words have extra meaning. And I have to listen to a Rowling’s podcast. I find backstories give me context. Of course, I’m the same crazy guy who’s googling the cast of a movie while watching it and finding out what they were last in, instead of just enjoying the movie, tv show, song, book, etc. Ha ha!!!

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  15. I knew J. K. Rowling’s story, but I didn’t know about George Lucas. Yes, they were so wrong! And I’m sure the publishers who turned down Rowling have had some downright sobbing sessions. 🙂 It’s always fascinating to read the behind the stories. Thanks for sharing, Brian!

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  16. My favorite overcoming/rejection story is the tale of “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance”. It was rejected 121 times (one hundred and twenty times)! before it was finally published and went on to become a best seller. Now THAT’S perseverance. And faith, or maybe insanity, huh?

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