Since graduating from the University of Iowa Writer's Workshop, he has worked as a contributing editor at Esquire, Sports Afield, Outside and Men's Journal. Stanton has written extensively on travel, sports, entertainment and history.

Throughout his career, he has nearly drowned in Cape Horn waters, survived a mugging by jungle revolutionaries, played basketball with George Clooney, and taken an acting lesson from Harrison Ford.

In April 2009, Disney acquired the screen rights to Stanton’s newest book, Horse Soldiers. Disney Acquires Rights to Horse Soldiers" He is currently writing a screenplay adaptation of his last book, In Harm's Way for producer Mark Gordon. Traverse City Record-Eagle - Film premiere to aid food pantries

In 2009, Stanton founded the Traverse City National Writers Series. The Series' first guests were father-and-son authors Elmore Leonard and Peter Leonard. All proceeds from the Series benefit a scholarship fund for local high school students to pursue writing degrees in college. Nearly two dozen authors and story-tellers are committed to appear at the TC National Writers Series in 2010, including Tom Brokaw, Mary Karr, Woody Harrelson, Mario Batali and Audrey Niffenegger.