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{{Infobox writer
#REDIRECT [[Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel]]
| name = J.D. Barker
| image =
| birth_name = Jonathan Dylan Barker
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|1|7}}
| occupation = Novelist
| nationality = American
| genres = Suspense, Thriller, Horror
| website = {{URL|www.jdbarker.com}}
}}
'''J.D. Barker''' (Jonathan Dylan Barker) is an [[American writer]] of [[supernatural horror]] and suspense, primarily known for his book Forsaken,<ref name="TribLIVE" /> which was a finalist for a [[Bram Stoker Award]] in 2014.<ref name="nom">{{cite web|title=Bram Stoker Award nominee|url=http://www.whc2015.org/the-bram-stoker-awards/|publisher=[[Bram Stoker Award]]|accessdate=22 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="Publishers Weekly" />

==Early life and Career==
Barker was born January 7, 1971 in [[Lombard, Illinois]] and spent the first fourteen years of his life in [[Crystal Lake, Illinois]].


At fourteen, Barker’s family relocated to [[Englewood, Florida]]. He attended [[Lemon Bay High School]] and graduated in 1989. He enrolled at the [[Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale]] where he later obtained a degree in business. While in college, a writing assignment found its way into the hands of Paul Gallotta of [[Circus Magazine]]. Gallotta reached out to Barker and asked him to join the staff of [[25th Parallel (magazine)]] where he worked alongside the man who would later become [[Marilyn Manson]].<ref name="Ian">{{cite news|last1=Flanagan|first1=Ian|title=Forsaken author J.D. Barker, now a Pittsburgher, anticipates his next novel|url=http://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/forsaken-author-jd-barker-now-a-pittsburgher-anticipates-his-next-novel/Content?oid=1972545|publisher=[[Pittsburgh City Paper]]}}</ref> Assignments dropped him into the center of pop culture and by 1991 Barker branched out, interviewing celebrities for the likes of [[Seventeen]], [[TeenBeat]], and other national and local publications. In 1992, Barker syndicated a small newspaper column called Revealed which centered around the investigation of haunted places and supernatural occurrences.<ref>{{cite web|title=Noelle chats to J D Barker|url=http://www.bestcrimebooksandmore.co.uk/2015/05/crimethrillermystery-author-interview.html?m=1#more|publisher=BCB and More|accessdate=22 December 2016}}</ref> He began work as a [[ghost writer]] and book doctor, helping other authors for publication. Recently, the estate of [[Bram Stoker]] selected Barker to co-author a prequel to [[Dracula]], alongside [[Dacre Stoker]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Lake Worth author writing prequel to 'Dracula'|url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/lifestyles/penning-prequel-dracula/p5gw6xl9s0qh8mcSQYnIII/|accessdate=22 December 2016|publisher=[[The Palm Beach Post]]}}</ref> This prequel is to be based on recently discovered handwritten journal notes of [[Bram Stoker]]'s, which reveal that Stoker believed vampires were real, and that the intention of Dracula may have been to serve as a warning.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ideas for best Christmas reads? We ask writers for their top picks|url=http://www.irishnews.com/arts/2016/12/15/news/writers-recommendations-for-a-good-christmas-read-833760/|publisher=[[The Irish News]]|accessdate=22 December 2016}}</ref> Barker cites [[Stephen King]], [[Dean Koontz]], [[John Saul]], and [[Neil Gaiman]] among his influences.<ref>{{cite web|title=Forsaken by J.D. Barker (Review & Interview)|url=http://evie-bookish.blogspot.in/2015/06/forsaken-by-jd-barker-review-interview.html|accessdate=22 December 2016}}</ref>

[[Stephen King]] read portions of Forsaken prior to publication and granted Barker permission to utilize the character of [[Leland Gaunt]] of King’s [[Needful Things]] in the novel.<ref>{{cite web|title=Forsaken: Book One of the Shadow Cove Saga (9780990694908): Reviews|url=https://www.amazon.com/Forsaken-Book-Shadow-Cove-Saga/dp/0990694909|publisher=[[Amazon.com]]|accessdate=22 December 2016}}</ref> Indie-published in late 2014, the book went on to hit some major milestones - #2 on Audible ([[Harper Lee]] with [[Go Set a Watchman]] held #1), #44 on Amazon U.S., #2 on Amazon Canada, and #22 on Amazon UK.<ref name="TribLIVE">{{cite news|last1=Behe|first1=Rege|title=Carnegie horror author finds instant success with 1st novel|url=http://triblive.com/aande/books/10151249-74/barker-novel-horror|publisher=[[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]]}}</ref> Forsaken was also nominated for a [[Bram Stoker Award]] (Best Debut Novel) and won a handful of others including a New Apple Medalist Award.<ref name="Ian" /> After reading Forsaken, Bram Stoker’s family reached out to Barker and asked him to co-author a prequel to [[Dracula]] utilizing Bram’s original notes and journals, much of which has never been made public.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Indie Author Behind the Official 'Dracula' Prequel|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/pw-select/article/69771-the-indie-author-behind-the-official-dracula-prequel.html|accessdate=30 December 2016|publisher=[[Publishers Weekly]]}}</ref>
Barker’s indie success drew the attention of traditional agents and publishers and in early 2016 his debut thriller, The Fourth Monkey sold in a series of pre-empts and auctions worldwide with [[Houghton Mifflin Harcourt]] set to publish in the U.S. and [[HarperCollins]] in the UK. The book has also sold for both film and television.<ref>{{cite web|title=“Forsaken” Author J.D. Barker’s “The Fourth Monkey” Thrills The Film Rights Market|url=http://www.tracking-board.com/exclusive-forsaken-author-j-d-barkers-the-fourth-monkey-thrills-the-film-rights-market/|publisher=Tracking-Board.com|accessdate=30 December 2016|date=8 April 2016}}</ref>

== Bibliography ==
=== Novels ===
* ''Forsaken'' (2014 - Hampton Creek Press)<ref name="Publishers Weekly">{{cite web|title=Review of Forsaken by J.D. Barker|url=http://charlene.booklikes.com/post/1071999/forsaken-by-j-d-barker|website=Char's Horror Corner|accessdate=17 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Review of Forsaken|url=http://publishersweekly.com/978-0-9906949-3-9#path/978-0-9906949-3-9|publisher=[[Publishers Weekly]]|accessdate=24 April 2015}}</ref>ISBN 978-0990694908
* ''The Fourth Monkey'' (2017)
* Untitled Dracula Prequel with [[Dacre Stoker]] (TBA)

=== Short Stories ===
{{div col}}
* ''Hybrid'' (2012 - Among The Shadow Entertainment)<ref>{{cite web|title=Goodreads Author Page|url=https://www.goodreads.com/jdbarker|website=Goodreads|accessdate=17 April 2015}}</ref>
* ''Of The Lake'' (2013 - Among The Shadow Entertainment)
* ''Room 108'' (1998 - ''Hidden Fears Magazine'')
* ''A Caller's Game'' (1997 - ''Hidden Fears Magazine'')
* ''Wicked Ways'' (1997 - ''Hidden Fears Magazine'')
* ''The Sitter'' (1996 - ''Hidden Fears Magazine'')
* ''Among Us'' (1995 - ''Dark Crossing Magazine'')
* ''Mondays'' (1993 - ''Last Exit Press'')
{{div col end}}

== Awards ==
{{awards table}}
|-
| 2014
| ''Superior Achievement in a First Novel''<ref name="nom" />
| [[Bram Stoker Awards]]
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| 2014
| ''Horror''
| New Apple Medalist Honors
| {{Won}}
|-
| 2014
| ''Best Debut Author''
| [[Goodreads]]
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| 2014
| ''Best Horror of 2014''
| [[Goodreads]]
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| 2014
| ''Superior Achievement in a First Novel''<ref name="nom" />
| [[Bram Stoker Awards]]
| {{Nominated}}
|}


==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:American male writers]]
[[Category:American horror novelists]]

Revision as of 09:27, 2 January 2017

J.D. Barker
BornJonathan Dylan Barker
(1971-01-07) January 7, 1971 (age 53)
OccupationNovelist
NationalityAmerican
GenresSuspense, Thriller, Horror
Website
www.jdbarker.com

J.D. Barker (Jonathan Dylan Barker) is an American writer of supernatural horror and suspense, primarily known for his book Forsaken,[1] which was a finalist for a Bram Stoker Award in 2014.[2][3]

Early life and Career

Barker was born January 7, 1971 in Lombard, Illinois and spent the first fourteen years of his life in Crystal Lake, Illinois.


At fourteen, Barker’s family relocated to Englewood, Florida. He attended Lemon Bay High School and graduated in 1989. He enrolled at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale where he later obtained a degree in business. While in college, a writing assignment found its way into the hands of Paul Gallotta of Circus Magazine. Gallotta reached out to Barker and asked him to join the staff of 25th Parallel (magazine) where he worked alongside the man who would later become Marilyn Manson.[4] Assignments dropped him into the center of pop culture and by 1991 Barker branched out, interviewing celebrities for the likes of Seventeen, TeenBeat, and other national and local publications. In 1992, Barker syndicated a small newspaper column called Revealed which centered around the investigation of haunted places and supernatural occurrences.[5] He began work as a ghost writer and book doctor, helping other authors for publication. Recently, the estate of Bram Stoker selected Barker to co-author a prequel to Dracula, alongside Dacre Stoker.[6] This prequel is to be based on recently discovered handwritten journal notes of Bram Stoker's, which reveal that Stoker believed vampires were real, and that the intention of Dracula may have been to serve as a warning.[7] Barker cites Stephen King, Dean Koontz, John Saul, and Neil Gaiman among his influences.[8]

Stephen King read portions of Forsaken prior to publication and granted Barker permission to utilize the character of Leland Gaunt of King’s Needful Things in the novel.[9] Indie-published in late 2014, the book went on to hit some major milestones - #2 on Audible (Harper Lee with Go Set a Watchman held #1), #44 on Amazon U.S., #2 on Amazon Canada, and #22 on Amazon UK.[1] Forsaken was also nominated for a Bram Stoker Award (Best Debut Novel) and won a handful of others including a New Apple Medalist Award.[4] After reading Forsaken, Bram Stoker’s family reached out to Barker and asked him to co-author a prequel to Dracula utilizing Bram’s original notes and journals, much of which has never been made public.[10] Barker’s indie success drew the attention of traditional agents and publishers and in early 2016 his debut thriller, The Fourth Monkey sold in a series of pre-empts and auctions worldwide with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt set to publish in the U.S. and HarperCollins in the UK. The book has also sold for both film and television.[11]

Bibliography

Novels

  • Forsaken (2014 - Hampton Creek Press)[3][12]ISBN 978-0990694908
  • The Fourth Monkey (2017)
  • Untitled Dracula Prequel with Dacre Stoker (TBA)

Short Stories

  • Hybrid (2012 - Among The Shadow Entertainment)[13]
  • Of The Lake (2013 - Among The Shadow Entertainment)
  • Room 108 (1998 - Hidden Fears Magazine)
  • A Caller's Game (1997 - Hidden Fears Magazine)
  • Wicked Ways (1997 - Hidden Fears Magazine)
  • The Sitter (1996 - Hidden Fears Magazine)
  • Among Us (1995 - Dark Crossing Magazine)
  • Mondays (1993 - Last Exit Press)

Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2014 Superior Achievement in a First Novel[2] Bram Stoker Awards Nominated
2014 Horror New Apple Medalist Honors Won
2014 Best Debut Author Goodreads Nominated
2014 Best Horror of 2014 Goodreads Nominated
2014 Superior Achievement in a First Novel[2] Bram Stoker Awards Nominated


References

  1. ^ a b Behe, Rege. "Carnegie horror author finds instant success with 1st novel". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
  2. ^ a b c "Bram Stoker Award nominee". Bram Stoker Award. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Review of Forsaken by J.D. Barker". Char's Horror Corner. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  4. ^ a b Flanagan, Ian. "Forsaken author J.D. Barker, now a Pittsburgher, anticipates his next novel". Pittsburgh City Paper.
  5. ^ "Noelle chats to J D Barker". BCB and More. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  6. ^ "Lake Worth author writing prequel to 'Dracula'". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  7. ^ "Ideas for best Christmas reads? We ask writers for their top picks". The Irish News. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  8. ^ "Forsaken by J.D. Barker (Review & Interview)". Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  9. ^ "Forsaken: Book One of the Shadow Cove Saga (9780990694908): Reviews". Amazon.com. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  10. ^ "The Indie Author Behind the Official 'Dracula' Prequel". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  11. ^ ""Forsaken" Author J.D. Barker's "The Fourth Monkey" Thrills The Film Rights Market". Tracking-Board.com. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  12. ^ "Review of Forsaken". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  13. ^ "Goodreads Author Page". Goodreads. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
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