James B. Patterson (born March 22, 1947) is an American author of thriller novels, largely known for his series about African-American psychologist Alex Cross. Patterson also wrote "When The Wind Blows" and its sequel "The Lake House."
Biography
He retired from the movie life and devoted his time to being a writer. The novels featuring his character, Alex Cross, a forensic psychologist formerly of the Washington D.C. Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation who now works as a private psychologist and government consultant, are the most popular books among Patterson readers and the top selling US Detective series in the past ten years. Patterson has written 52 novels over his 33 years as an author.
He has won awards including the Edgar Award, the BCA Mystery Guild’s Thriller of the Year, and the International Thriller of the Year award. He is the first author to have #1 new titles simultaneously on The New York Times adult and children’s bestsellers lists, and to have two books on NovelTracker’s top-ten list at the same time. He holds the New York Times bestsellers list record with 45 New York Times bestselling titles overall. He even made an appearance on the Fox TV show The Simpsons (in the episode "Yokel Chords") as himself.
Patterson is also well known for sharing the spotlight with different co-authors such as Maxine Paetro, Andrew Gross, and Peter DeJonge and has often said that collaborating with others brings new and interesting ideas to his stories. He is currently collaborating with Swedish mystery writer Liza Marklund on a book called The Postcard Killers and is set to be released in 2010. All that is known of the story at this point is that it is set in Stockholm, Sweden. In September 2009, Patterson signed a book deal to write or co-write 11 books for adults and six for young adults by the end of 2012. Forbes reported the deal was worth at least $150 million, but Patterson said the estimate "isn't close."
Holds the New York Times bestsellers list record with 47 New York Times bestselling titles
He also founded the James Patterson PageTurner Awards in 2005 to personally give away over $600,000 to reward “people, companies, schools, and other institutions who find original and effective ways to spread the excitement of books and reading.” The PageTurner Awards were put on hold in 2008 to focus on Patterson's new initiative, ReadKiddoRead.com, which helps parents, teachers, and librarians find the very best children’s books for their kids. There is also a social networking site for ReadKiddoRead, hosted by Ning.
Television and Movies
Patterson’s bestselling Women’s Murder Club series was adapted for a television series show starring former Law & Order star Angie Harmon. The show premiered in the fall of 2007 on ABC and ran for one season.
The first two books from Patterson's Alex Cross series, Kiss The Girls and Along Came A Spider were adapted into feature films starring Morgan Freeman as Alex Cross. Kiss the Girls was released in 1997, before the 2001 release of Along Came a Spider , even though Along Came A Spider precedes Kiss The Girls in the book series. A third Alex Cross Movie is currently in early production stages.
Other movie deals currently in the works include a major motion picture based on his Maximum Ride series, to be produced by Avi Arad, the producer of the X-Men and Spider-Man film series. Most recently, the forthcoming Dangerous Days of Daniel X has been optioned by New Regency.
Patterson made a cameo appearance as himself on ABC's crime drama Castle, playing poker against Stephen J. Cannell and the eponymous hero Richard Castle.
Criticism
Horror novelist Stephen King has dismissed Patterson's bibliography as being made up of "dopey thrillers," and in one interview called him a "terrible writer". Patterson responded dismissively, simply stating that "I just want to be the thrillingest thriller writer around."'
Patterson has also been heavily criticised by Patrick Anderson, a reviewer of thriller novels for The Washington Post . Anderson once called him "the absolute pits, the lowest common denominator of cynical, scuzzy, assembly-line writing", and branded his second Alex Cross novel, Kiss the Girls , "sick, sexist, sadistic and sub-literate".
Patterson has also received criticism for his continued work with collaborators. His prolific output is partially owed to the relationship he has with his many co-authors who share an authorship credit on the cover. The authors, in their agreement with Patterson, have agreed not to disclose the terms of their working relationship, including how much involvement Patterson has on each co-authored book.
Education and personal life
Patterson received his bachelor's degree from Manhattan College, and his Masters degree at Vanderbilt University.
He lives in Palm Beach, Florida with his wife Susan, and son Jack.
Bibliography
Alex Cross
- Along Came A Spider (1992, ISBN 0-446-36419-3)
- Kiss the Girls (1995, ISBN 0-446-60124-1)
- Jack & Jill (1996, ISBN 0-446-60480-1)
- Cat and Mouse (1997, ISBN 0-446-60618-9)
- Pop Goes the Weasel (1999, ISBN 0-375-40854-1)
- Roses are Red (2000, ISBN 0-446-60548-4)
- Violets are Blue (2001, ISBN 0-446-61121-2)
- Four Blind Mice (2002, ISBN 0-446-61326-6)
- The Big Bad Wolf (2003, ISBN 0-446-61326-6)
- London Bridges (2004, ISBN 0-446-61335-5)
- Mary, Mary (2005, ISBN 0-316-15976-X)
- Cross (2006, ISBN 0-316-15979-4 )
- Double Cross (2007, ISBN 0-316-01505-9)
- Cross Country (2008, ISBN 0-316-018724)
- Alex Cross' Trial (2009)
- I, Alex Cross (November 16, 2009)
Women's Murder Club
Four San Francisco friends - a detective, a district attorney, a medical examiner, and a crime reporter - join forces to solve mysteries.
- 1st to Die (2001, ISBN 0-446-61003-8)
- 2nd Chance (2002, ISBN 0-446-61279-0, with Andrew Gross)
- 3rd Degree (2004, ISBN 0-316-60357-0, with Andrew Gross)
- 4th of July (2005, ISBN 0-316-71060-1, with Maxine Paetro)
- The 5th Horseman (2006, ISBN 0-316-15977-8, with Maxine Paetro)
- The 6th Target (2007, ISBN 0-316-01479-6, with Maxine Paetro)
- 7th Heaven (2008, ISBN 0-316-01770-1, with Maxine Paetro)
- 8th Confession (2009, ISBN 978-1846052583 )
- 9th Judgement (April 26, 2010 UK release date) title & release date subject to change (title change from 9th Victim)
Maximum Ride
- Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment (2005 | ISBN 031615556X)
- Maximum Ride: School's Out Forever (2006 | ISBN 0316155594)
- Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports (2007 | ISBN 0316155608)
- Maximum Ride: The Final Warning (2008 | ISBN 0316002860)
- MAX: A Maximum Ride Novel (2009 | ISBN 0316002895)
- Fang: A Maximum Ride Novel (USA: March 15 , 2010 | ISBN 0316036196) ( Title & Release Date subject to change )
Michael Bennett
- Step on a Crack (2007) (with Michael Ledwidge)
- Run for Your Life (2009) (with Michael Ledwidge)
- Worst Case ( February 1 , 2010 ) (with Michael Ledwidge) Title & release date are subject to change
Daniel X
- The Dangerous Days of Daniel X (2008) (with Michael Ledwidge)
- Watch the Skies (2009) (with Ned Rust)
- Demons & Druids ( July 26 , 2010 )
Witch & Wizard
- Witch & Wizard ( December 14 , 2009 ) (with Gabrielle Charbonnet) Title & release date are subject to change
Graphic novels
- Daniel X: Alien Hunter (with Leopoldo Gout) (2008, ISBN 0-316-004251)
- Maximum Ride, Vol. 1 Manga (with NaRae Lee) (2009, ISBN 0-759-529515)
- Maximum Ride, Vol. 2 Manga (with NaRae Lee) (2009, ISBN 0-759-52968X)
Standalone novels
- The Thomas Berryman Number (1976) (Edgar Award, 1977, Best First Novel)
- Season of the Machete (1977)
- Virgin (1980)
- The Midnight Club (1988)
- Hide & Seek (1996)
- Miracle on the 17th Green (1996) (with Peter De Jonge)
- See How They Run (1997, previously published in 1977 as The Jericho Commandment )
- When the Wind Blows (1998)
- Black Friday (2000, previously published in 1986 as Black Market )
- Cradle and All (2000, based on, and includes scenes plus characters, from Virgin (1980))
- Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas (2001)
- The Beach House (2002) (with Peter De Jonge)
- The Jester (2003) (with Andrew Gross)
- The La
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