William Stonehill Saroyan (1908–1981) wrote more than 60 books during his lifetime. He published his first, The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze, at the age of 26. Born in Fresno, California, to Armenian parents, Saroyan attributed much of his inspiration for writing to his Armenian heritage. In his last published book he wrote, "My work is writing, but my real work is being." Much of his "real work of being" was spent cultivating a worldwide understanding of the Armenian culture. About his people, Saroyan said, "For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia."