Keith Stern has been captivating audiences with the life stories of prominent figures for nearly three decades, reaching millions through both print and online platforms. His comprehensive collection of 900 mini-biographies, Queers in History, was published by BenBella Books in 2010 and quickly soared to the top of the Amazon charts. This perennial bestseller originally debuted as an innovative Mac/PC app in 1993.
Stern is a pioneer in the digital space, having produced some of the most popular biographical websites and social media pages on the Internet. Since 1997, he has collaborated with Sir Ian McKellen on the actor’s autobiographical website, McKellen.com. His portfolio also includes groundbreaking websites and social media for Sean Astin, Andy Serkis, the late Lynn Redgrave, Spinal Tap, Gods and Monsters, and many other movie stars and films.
Beginning his career in the music industry, Stern worked as a musician before spending several years with Warner Bros Records in field promotion, public relations, A&R, and IT. In the 1970s, he was part of the founding days of CBGB, the legendary music venue in Manhattan’s Bowery. In 1980, he transformed The Milestone in Charlotte, North Carolina, into a punk rock/new wave music venue that remains a leading music showcase. He produced early concerts for iconic punk/new wave acts including R.E.M., The Ramones, The Go-Go’s, Iggy Pop, Bow Wow Wow, and Joan Jett.
After his tenure at Warner Bros HQ in Burbank, Stern pursued his passion for computers as an independent consultant. He eventually worked with nearly all the major film and TV studios, implementing cutting-edge email systems and laptops for writers.
In 1993, Stern published Queers in History on CD-ROM, one of the first “new media” titles sold through bookstores, achieving worldwide success. This groundbreaking work included biographies of hundreds of historical figures who were gay, lesbian, or bisexual, along with a trivia game called Queeries. A completely revised edition was published by BenBella Books in 2010, which ranked among the best-sellers for months.
Stern’s historical novel, Freezing Time, based on the life of pioneering photographer Eadweard Muybridge, was commissioned for film by actor/director Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Planetof the Apes, Venom: Let There Be Carnage).
An accomplished photographer, Stern’s work has been featured in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Guardian and other newspapers, as well as several books, including Lonely Planet travel guides.
