Robert James Waller was born in 1939 in Rockford, Iowa. As well as an internationally bestselling author he is known for his work as a photographer and musician. Until 1989 Waller was Dean of the School of Business at the University of Northern Iowa. The Bridges of Madison County ahs been translated into 25 lanugauges and has sold over 12 million copies worldwide. Waller died in 2017.