10) Before turning to writing thrillers, Brown wrote two completely irrelevant humor books — 187 Men to Avoid and The Bald Book. Both titles were written under a pseudonym to reserve the use of Dan Brown's name for his potential pop career and more serious writings.

9) During Brown's fledgling Hollywood pop music years, he was dubbed by key figures in the music industry as the next Barry Manilow. Brown would later decide not to pursue a music career because he hated the glare of the spotlight and didn't agree with the placing control in the hands of industry image-makers.

8) For Brown's last CD release—coincidentally titled Angels & Demons—Brown insisted on doing all of the producing, writing, and performing himself. However, for the CD's ambigram artwork, he turned to friend John Langdon, who would later create the cover for the subsequent Angels and Demons book, while also inspiring a portion of protagonist Robert Langdon's name.

7) There is much speculation attached to Brown's fifth novel, The Solomon Key, which was initially slated for publication in May 2005. As we near 2006, a complete manuscript is still nowhere in sight—leading to doubts on whether Brown can deliver another best-seller.

6) Brown's father, a math professor, and his mother, a sacred musician, indoctrinated him in both scientific thought and theory, as well as the religious, sacred, and spiritual methodology. To this end, it comes as no surprise that Brown accepts both realms—the analytical and the divine—as coexisting simultaneously, leading to scorn and controversy from both the church and his critics.

5) Brown's wife Blythe is twelve years his senior. It is rare that an accomplished male is involved in a nurturing relationship with someone so much older than him.

4) The fact that the The Da Vinci Code ever saw the light of day after Brown's first three failed attempts at novel writing remains a mystery to seasoned veterans of the publishing industry.

3) Brown was granted a rare audience with Pope John Paul prior to his death.

2) Brown's father was once offered a job at the National Security Agency, the same government division that Brown skewers in his first novel, Digital Fortress.

1) Brown has developed rough outlines and story sketches for twelve future novels featuring cryptologist Robert Langdon. Doubt persists—even by Brown himself—who states, "I doubt Iíll be able to write them all."