James Patterson is a famous American detective and thriller writer. According to Forbes magazine, he is one of the best-selling authors in the world. In 2010, he entered the Guinness Book of Records as the first novelist to sell more than a million e-books.
Patterson was an advertising manager for many years, and then head of the advertising department at J. Walter Thompson. His first book was published in 1976 and immediately became a bestseller. In 1996, he quit the company and devoted himself entirely to literary creation.
Patterson believes that there is no such person who does not like to read, there are only people who have not found their book.
Facts from the biography
James was born in the spring of 1947 in the US state of New York. He was born into a family of a teacher and an insurance agent.
After receiving his primary education, he entered Manhattan College, graduating with a bachelor's degree in English and literature. Then he continued his studies at Vanderbilt University. He graduated with honors and received a master's degree. Later at the same university, Patterson defended his dissertation and became a candidate of philosophical sciences.
After receiving the diploma, Patterson received the position of manager in an advertising agency, and then became the head of the department. He began to write during the period of cooperation with the company. Until 1996, he combined literary creativity with work.
Literary career
Patterson did not immediately become a famous writer. They refused to publish his first novel for a long time. He sent the manuscript to dozens of publishers, but always received a negative answer.
Everything changed in 1976. Patterson did find publishers who decided to release his first novel, The Thomas Barryman Number. Interestingly, James himself designed the cover sketch and ran an advertising campaign for his own money. His investment was soon fully justified.
After the book appeared on store shelves, it instantly became a bestseller. Patterson received his first literary award, the Edgar Award (Edgar Allan Poe Prize).
Over the years, Patterson has published several dozens of novels, most of which have become bestsellers, and the circulation of books has exceeded three hundred million copies.
Patterson received wide popularity after a series of books, the main character of which was Inspector Alex Cross. To date, works from this series are the best-selling in the whole world.
The main character of another series of his novels was detective Michael Bennete. Eleven books of the writer are united in the cycle "Women's club of murder investigations." Patterson also has a number of works that are not included in any series.
In addition to writing novels, Patterson is involved in charitable and educational activities. He became the founder of his own literary prize and personal scholarship, awarded to students from many educational institutions in America. More than seventy million dollars Patterson allocated to support teachers and education in general.
Several films were shot based on Patterson's works, in particular the thriller “And the Spider Came, ” where Morgan Freeman played the main role of Inspector Alex Cross.
Prizes and awards
- Winner of the National Book Fund's Innovation in Reading Prize.
- American Library Association Teens Top Ten Award Winner.
- Teen Choice Book of the Year Award Nominee.
- Repeated winner of the "Author of the Year" award.
- Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards Nominee.
- Winner of the International Reading Association's Association of Young Adults' Choices Booklist.
- Winner of the 2015 National Book Fund Literary Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literature Community.
- Winner of the Edgar Award and six Emmy Awards.
