The inspiration for A Walk to Remember came from Nicholas Sparks' sister, Danielle Sparks Lewis, when she died of cancer in 2000. In the speech he gave after her death in Berlin, Nicholas admits that 'In many ways, Jamie Sullivan was my younger sister". Both the book and film are dedicated to Danielle Sparks Lewis. The plot was inspired by her life; Danielle met a man who wanted to marry her, "even when he knew she was sick, even when he knew that she might not make it.
Nicholas Sparks is one of the world's most beloved authors. One of Sparks best-known stories, The Notebook, was written over a period of six months at age 28. He followed with many novels, Message in a Bottle (1998), A Walk to Remember (1999), The Rescue (2000), A Bend in the Road (2001), Nights in Rodanthe (2002), The Guardian (2003), The Wedding (2003), True Believer (2005), its sequel (At First Sight (2005), Dear John (2006), The Choice (2007), The Lucky One (2008), The Last Song (2009), Safe Haven (2010), and The Best of Me (2011). Nicholas now lives in NC with his family. Nicholas is very charitable. He contributes to the Creative Writing Program (MFA) at the University of Notre Dame. Here he provides scholarships, internships, and a fellowship annually. Nicholas and his wife founded the Epiphany School in New Bern, NC. Nicholas still holds the track and field record at the University of Notre Dame where he was a former full scholarship athlete. Nicholas also spent time coaching track and field at the local high school, in 2009 the team he coached at New Bern High School set a world junior indoor record. In 2011, Nicholas and his wife launched the Nicholas Sparks Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to improving cultural and international understanding through global education experiences for children of all ages. With the foundation and the gifts given to Nicholas and Catherine Sparks, more than $10 million has been distributed to charities, scholarship programs, and projects; because Nicholas and Catherine cover all expenses for the foundation, 100% of the donations are devoted to programs.
Nicholas Sparks is one of the world's most beloved authors. One of Sparks best-known stories, The Notebook, was written over a period of six months at age 28. He followed with many novels, Message in a Bottle (1998), A Walk to Remember (1999), The Rescue (2000), A Bend in the Road (2001), Nights in Rodanthe (2002), The Guardian (2003), The Wedding (2003), True Believer (2005), its sequel (At First Sight (2005), Dear John (2006), The Choice (2007), The Lucky One (2008), The Last Song (2009), Safe Haven (2010), and The Best of Me (2011). Nicholas now lives in NC with his family. Nicholas is very charitable. He contributes to the Creative Writing Program (MFA) at the University of Notre Dame. Here he provides scholarships, internships, and a fellowship annually. Nicholas and his wife founded the Epiphany School in New Bern, NC. Nicholas still holds the track and field record at the University of Notre Dame where he was a former full scholarship athlete. Nicholas also spent time coaching track and field at the local high school, in 2009 the team he coached at New Bern High School set a world junior indoor record. In 2011, Nicholas and his wife launched the Nicholas Sparks Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to improving cultural and international understanding through global education experiences for children of all ages. With the foundation and the gifts given to Nicholas and Catherine Sparks, more than $10 million has been distributed to charities, scholarship programs, and projects; because Nicholas and Catherine cover all expenses for the foundation, 100% of the donations are devoted to programs.