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James Patterson

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For other people named James Patterson, see James Patterson (disambiguation).
James Patterson
File:James patterson small.jpg
OccupationNovelist
GenreThriller
Notable worksAlex Cross (series)

Maximum Ride (series)

The Women's Murder Club (series)
Website
http://www.jamespatterson.com

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.[1]

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.[2] 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[3] 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. [4] [5] [6] 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."[7]

Holds the New York Times bestsellers list record with 47 New York Times bestselling titles[8]

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.

sub>==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.[9]

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.[10]

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.

Patterson was greatly affended by the remarks of the other authors so he soon wrote one more book to show them up. adn well he did!

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"[11]. Patterson responded dismissively, simply stating that "I just want to be the thrillingest thriller writer around."'[citation needed]

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".[12]

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. [13]

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

  1. Along Came A Spider (1992, ISBN 0-446-36419-3)
  2. Kiss the Girls (1995, ISBN 0-446-60124-1)
  3. Jack & Jill (1996, ISBN 0-446-60480-1)
  4. Cat and Mouse (1997, ISBN 0-446-60618-9)
  5. Pop Goes the Weasel (1999, ISBN 0-375-40854-1)
  6. Roses are Red (2000, ISBN 0-446-60548-4)
  7. Violets are Blue (2001, ISBN 0-446-61121-2)
  8. Four Blind Mice (2002, ISBN 0-446-61326-6)
  9. The Big Bad Wolf (2003, ISBN 0-446-61326-6)
  10. London Bridges (2004, ISBN 0-446-61335-5)
  11. Mary, Mary (2005, ISBN 0-316-15976-X)
  12. Cross (2006, ISBN 0-316-15979-4 )
  13. Double Cross (2007, ISBN 0-316-01505-9)
  14. Cross Country (2008, ISBN 0-316-018724)
  15. Alex Cross' Trial (2009) (with Richard DiLallo)
  16. 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.

  1. 1st to Die (2001, ISBN 0-446-61003-8)
  2. 2nd Chance (2002, ISBN 0-446-61279-0, with Andrew Gross)
  3. 3rd Degree (2004, ISBN 0-316-60357-0, with Andrew Gross)
  4. 4th of July (2005, ISBN 0-316-71060-1, with Maxine Paetro)
  5. The 5th Horseman (2006, ISBN 0-316-15977-8, with Maxine Paetro)
  6. The 6th Target (2007, ISBN 0-316-01479-6, with Maxine Paetro)
  7. 7th Heaven (2008, ISBN 0-316-01770-1, with Maxine Paetro)
  8. 8th Confession (2009, ISBN 978-1846052583 )
  9. 9th Judgement (April 26, 2010 UK release date) title & release date subject to change (title change from 9th Victim)

Maximum Ride

  1. Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment (2005 | ISBN 031615556X)
  2. Maximum Ride: School's Out Forever (2006 | ISBN 0316155594)
  3. Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports (2007 | ISBN 0316155608)
  4. Maximum Ride: The Final Warning (2008 | ISBN 0316002860)
  5. MAX: A Maximum Ride Novel (2009 | ISBN 0316002895)
  6. Fang: A Maximum Ride Novel (USA: March 15, 2010 | ISBN 0316036196) (Title & Release Date subject to change)

Michael Bennett

  1. Step on a Crack (2007) (with Michael Ledwidge)
  2. Run for Your Life (2009) (with Michael Ledwidge)
  3. Worst Case (February 1, 2010) (with Michael Ledwidge) Title & release date are subject to change

Daniel X

  1. The Dangerous Days of Daniel X (2008) (with Michael Ledwidge)
  2. Watch the Skies (2009) (with Ned Rust)
  3. Demons & Druids (July 26, 2010)

Witch & Wizard

Graphic novels

Standalone novels

Non-fiction

Filmography

Novel Adapted Year of Adaptation Film / TV Extra Information
Child of Darkness, Child of Light 1991 TV Child of Darkness, Child of Light was adapted from the novel Virgin.[15]
Kiss the Girls 1997 Film Forensic detective/author Alex Cross investigates the disappearance of his niece from her North Carolina campus, and learns seven other women are also missing.[16]
Miracle on the 17th Green 1999 TV A 50 year old adman (Robert Urich) loses his job. Rather than facing trying to find a new job, he decides to try to make it on the senior golf tour. This causes him to neglect his wife (Meredith Baxter) and family.[17]
Along Came a Spider 2001 Film Washington, D.C. homicide detective Alex Cross is through playing mind games with criminals--that is until a methodical predator, Gary Soneji kidnaps the young son of a United States senator and the daughter of a famous actress from an elite school and lures Cross into the case. Soneji's not out for ransom, he wants something much bigger--a place in the history books. His every move is planned with the precision of a spider spinning his web, and Cross and secret service agent Jezzie Flannigan are in a race against time to stop him.[18]
1st to Die 2003 TV Based on James Patterson's bestseller, this three-hour thriller is about a homicide inspector -- Lindsay Boxer (Tracy Pollan) -- who teams with three other professional women to catch an ingenious serial killer targeting newlyweds on their wedding nights. But while Boxer is trying to solve the biggest case of her career, she is also falling in love with her partner (Gil Bellows) -- and privately waging her own battle with a life-threatening illness.[19]
Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas 2005 TV
Women's Murder Club 2007 TV Based on James Patterson's Women's Murder Club series. This tv series revolved around San Francisco homicide Inspector Lindsay Boxer (Angie Harmon) and her three friends: Assistant District Attorney Jill Bernhardt, Medical Examiner Claire Washburn, and reporter Cindy Thomas.
Maximum Ride 2010 Film James Patterson has had an "online rally" which has led him to arrange to have a movie based on his best selling teen series; Maximum Ride. The movie will be based on the first three books, but it is unknown whether it will also be based on the recently published fourth installment and newly released fifth novel, MAX.
  • It has been confirmed that a 3rd Alex Cross movie is being made, though it is unknown whether Morgan Freeman will return.
  • Daniel X has also been optioned by New Regency.
  • Appeared on the Series Premiere of Castle on ABC in March 2009.

References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ JamesPatterson.com
  3. ^ [2]
  4. ^ http://www.kvp.se/noje/bocker/1.1481928/marklund-och-patterson-i-samarbete
  5. ^ http://www.examiner.com/x-3859-Hartford-Books-Examiner~y2009m3d8-James-Pattersons-New-International-Collaboration
  6. ^ http://www.booktrade.info/index.php/showarticle/23634
  7. ^ http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2009-09-16-book-buzz_N.htm
  8. ^ [3]
  9. ^ [4]
  10. ^ Regency books 'Dangerous Days' - Entertainment News, Film News, Media - Variety
  11. ^ [5]
  12. ^ [6]
  13. ^ http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA257017.html
  14. ^ James Patterson (May 2000). Cradle and All. Little, Brown and Company. Front jacket flyleaf. ISBN 0-316-69061-9. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help); Unknown parameter |nopp= ignored (|no-pp= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ Child of Darkness, Child of Light an adaptation of Virgin
  16. ^ Kiss the Girls synopsis
  17. ^ Miracle on the 17th Green synopsis' at IMDb
  18. ^ Along Came a Spider synopsis
  19. ^ 1st to Die synopsis' at IMDb 


 MAXUMUM RIDE RULLES READ THE BOOK NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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