I Alex Cross
Patterson (born March 22, 1947) is an American author of thriller novels, largely known for his series about American psychologist Alex Cross. Patterson also wrote the Michael Bennett, Womens Murder Club, Maximum Ride, and Daniel X series, as well as many standalone thriller, nonfiction, and romance novels.
Biography
He retired from advertising in 1996 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 65 novels over his 33 years as an author. To date, James Patterson has had nineteen consecutive #1 New York Times bestselling novels, and holds the New York Times record for most Hardcover Fiction bestselling titles by a single author (48 total), which is also a Guinness World Record. The world's best-selling author, his novels account for one in seventeen of every hard-cover novels sold in the United States; in recent years his novels have sold more copies than those of Stephen King, John Grisham and Dan Brown combined..
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 appeared 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 August 2010.
The story is set in Stockholm, Sweden, and tracks the investigation of young couples' murders across Europe. The book will be released first in Sweden (January 2010) and the US version will arrive in bookstores in August 2010.
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 51 New York Times bestselling titles
He also founded the James Patterson PageTurner Awards in 2005 to personally give away over $850,000 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.
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".
In his 2009 book Junk Fiction: America's Obsession with Bestsellers, critic S.
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 (1993, 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's Trial (2009) (with Richard DiLallo)
I, Alex Cross (2009, ISBN 0-316-01878-3)
Cross Fire (November 15, 2010)
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, with Maxine Paetro)
9th Judgment (April 26, 2010, with Maxine Paetro) (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, ISBN: 0-316-03624-2) (with Gabrielle Charbonnet)
Witch and Wizard Book 2 (December 13, 2010) Title & Release Date subject to change
Graphic novels
Daniel X: Alien Hunter (with Leopoldo Gout) (2008, ISBN 0-316-004251)
Maximum Ride, Vol.