Lawrence Wright is a staff writer for The New York­er, a play­wright, a screen­writer, and the author of ten books of non­fic­tion, includ­ing The Loom­ing Tow­er, Going Clear, and God Save Texas, and one pre­vi­ous nov­el, God’s Favorite. His books have received many hon­ors, includ­ing a Pulitzer Prize for The Loom­ing Tow­er. He and his wife are long­time res­i­dents of Austin, Texas.