Happy Kenneth Robeson Day!

Today we’re celebrating something wonderful about the Doc Savage universe: the fact that “Kenneth Robeson” was never just one person. He was a whole creative ecosystem. He was a team of imaginations working in sync.

Three men (at first) contributing to create and shape Doc Savage. Publisher Henry Ralston dreaming up ideas…Editor John Nanovic shaping the vision…Author Lester Dent (and others) turning those concepts into steel-hard adventure…And every editor along the way refining, nudging, polishing. Each working with the others to contribute for the greater good. And it wasn’t simply an assembly line. Writers pitched ideas, editors became writers, It was a team.

That’s why I love honoring Kenneth Robeson as a collective. Because great stories often come from collaboration you never see, from outlines approved behind closed doors, from conversations and edits and ideas traded back and forth until the tale feels right.

So here’s to team-writing.
Here’s to the ghost behind the ghostwriter.
Here’s to the name that stood in for a whole room full of talent.

Here’s to Kenneth Robeson.