James Patterson
He has won an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the National Humanities Medal, and the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and he’s still not showing any signs of slowing down. He was the first person to sell a million ebooks, and he has now published more than 200 novels in the past 50 years.
Meet James Patterson
James Patterson was born and raised in New York. He earned a BA in English from Manhattan College, and followed that up with a Masters in English from Vanderbilt
University.
He spent some time as an advertising executive, but eventually left the industry to focus on writing. According to an article he wrote for NPR in 2009, his greatest inspiration for writing was Mrs. Bridge, a classic 1959 novel by Evan S. Connell.
James has donated millions in grants to independent bookshops, given more than a million books to school students, and has been the most borrowed author of adult fiction in UK libraries for more than a decade. He lives in Florida with his wife and son, and has also donated more than $35 million to his and his wife’s alma maters.
What genres does James Patterson write in?
Patterson writes primarily crime, detective and thriller novels, including stand-alone suspense and romance, as well as a wide range of books for young readers.
What are James Patterson's major series and where should I start with them?
Major adult series include Alex Cross, Women’s Murder Club, Michael Bennett and Private. For Alex Cross, a common starting point is Along Came a Spider. For other series, begin with the first book in that series to follow recurring characters and storylines.
Do I need to read his books in order?
For series titles it is best to read in publication order to follow character development and series arcs. Many of his stand-alone thrillers can be read independently.
Which of his books are suitable for children and young readers?
He has several children and middle-grade series, including Middle School, I Funny, Treasure Hunters, Dog Diaries and Max Einstein, all targeted at young readers.
How prolific is James Patterson and has he received any awards?
He has published more than 200 novels over about 50 years and sold hundreds of millions of copies worldwide. His honors include an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the National Humanities Medal and the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and he was the first author to sell a million ebooks.