Getting people involved

“One of the nice things about books as opposed to television and movies … is people really do get involved, and they do create, and they do have their own visions of what different characters look like and what should happen.  It’s great.  It means their brains are working.” – James Patterson

Born this day in 1947, James Patterson has become the most prolific author of all time with his phenomenal success as a mystery and children’s writer.  Intending to become a college professor of English, he was a Ph.D. candidate when he decided to try his hand at advertising and, like everything he tries his hand at, succeeded beyond his wildest dreams.  After rising to a top executive position at ad agency J. Walter Thompson in New York, he abruptly retired in 1996 to devote his time to writing.  Good move.

His novels featuring African-American detective/psychologist Alex Cross have been the most popular and top-selling U.S. detective series in the past decade.  Since 1976, when he first tried his hand at writing, Patterson has had 95 books (and counting) published and sold more than 300 million of them.  He also holds the distinction of having had more books sold as e-books than any other author.   And, as long as we’re talking records, he also has had 19 consecutive No. 1 books on New York Times bestselling novel list.

 

James Patterson

Since 2005 his novels have sold more copies than those of bestselling authors Stephen King, John Grisham and Dan Brown – combined.  And he is the first author to ever have the Number 1 titles in both adult and children’s categories at the same time.  His awards include the Edgar, the BCA Mystery Guild’s Thriller of the Year, and the International Thriller of the Year.  But, he said, the award he most cherishes is Author of the Year from the Children’s Choice Awards.

“This is what I believe is most important:” he said, “Getting good books into the hands of kids – books that will make them want to say, ‘Wow, that was great.  Give me another one to read.’”

Happy Birthday James.  See you on an upcoming episode of Castle.

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