Herman Raucher began his professional life as a messenger at 20th Century-Fox Films in New York City. The next fifteen years saw him leading somewhat of a double life. As an advertising man he served as V.P., Creative Director and Board Member for several major advertising agencies, including working as Copy Director for Walt Disney Films and a two-year stint in the U.S. Army. And as a playwright he authored live dramas for such prestigious television shows as The Alcoa Hour, Goodyear Playhouse and Studio One. From there Raucher moved on into the world of novels and screenplays. His many novels include Summer of '42, Ode to Billy Joe, Watermelon Man, Maynard's House, There Should Have Been Castles, and A Glimpse of Tiger. As a screenwriter, Raucher has won numerous awards: his screenplay Summer of '42 earned him both the Oscar and Writers Guild nominations for Best Original Screenplay and won the Photoplay Gold Medal for Best Film of the Year. Hieronymus Merkin received the British Writers Guild's award for Best Original Screenplay.