Lars Amend, born in 1978, is a journalist and author. He has worked for MTV and VIVA, Jetzt magazine and the Berlin Tagesspiegel. 2008 saw the publication of his first book which was a #1 Spiegel bestseller and one of the most successful titles of the year. Other books followed, including those with Rudolf Schenker (guitarist of The Scorpions) and Paulo Coelho. The filming of his bestseller This Crazy Heart has been seen by over 2 million movie goers.