James Patterson – About James (2024)

ABOUT JAMES

James Patterson – About James (1)

James Pattersonis the most popular storyteller of our time. He is the creator of unforgettable characters and series, including Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride, and of breathtaking true stories about the Kennedys, John Lennon, and Tiger Woods, as well as our military heroes, police officers, and ERnurses.Pattersonhas coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, andcollaborated most recently withMichael Crichton on the blockbusterEruption.He has told the story ofhis own life inJames Patterson by James Pattersonand received an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.

GET TO KNOW JAMES

JAMES PATTERSON’S AWARDS

  • National Book Foundation’s 2015 Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community
  • National Parenting Publications Honors Awards
  • International Reading Association’s Young Adults’ Choices Booklist
  • American Library Association “Teens Top Ten” Pick
  • London TimesBook Sense Children’s Pick
  • 2011 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award, Nominee
  • Children’s Choice Book Awards
    • Author of the Year 2010 forMax
    • Nominee, 2011 Teen Choice Book of the Year (Fang) and 2012 Author of the Year (Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life)

Awards for ReadKiddoRead

  • Winner of the National Book Foundation’s Innovations in Reading Prize
  • Winner of the American Library Association’s Great Websites for Kids

JAMES’S MASTERCLASS

JAMES AND SUE TALK THEIR LATEST BOOK

GIVING BACK

James Patterson has donated more than one million books to students, focusing on some of the most under-resourced schools and youth programs in the country. To date, he has donated $7.25 million to school and classroom libraries throughout the United States, and $2.1 million to independent bookstores and employees.

Patterson has recently donated over $35 million to his and his wife’s alma maters—the University of Wisconsin, Vanderbilt University, and Manhattan College—and he has established over four hundred Teacher and Writer Education Scholarships at twenty-one colleges and universities throughout the country. Patterson has also donated more than one million books to U.S. soldiers at home and overseas.

Giving Back to Higher Education…

The Patterson Family Foundation has given over $26 million to the alma maters of James and Sue Patterson:Vanderbilt University, Manhattan College,and theUniversity of Wisconsin.

College Scholarships

The Patterson Family Foundation has awarded over seven million dollars in scholarships to students at 24 different colleges. The James Patterson Teacher Education Scholarships support up-and-coming teachers, who will help give kids the necessary foundation for lifelong reading enjoyment, at the following schools:

  • Appalachian State University– Reich College of Education
  • Emporia State University– The Teachers College
  • Florida Atlantic University– College of Education
  • Howard University– School of Education
  • Mississippi State University– College of Education
  • Relay Graduate School of Education
  • Tougaloo College– Division of Education, Supervision and Direction
  • University of Alabama– College of Education
  • University of Florida– College of Education
  • University of Pennsylvania– College of Arts and Sciences
  • University of Southern California– Rossier School of Education

Additionally, the Pattersons support theA.W. Dreyfoos School of the Artsin West Palm Beach, most recently sponsoring the school’s annual holiday prism concert. The school is consistently ranked as one of the highest-performing public schools in the nation and sends more kids on to Juilliard than any other school in the country.

After-school reading programs are also in place at four Palm Beach County middle schools where up to 1,000 books have been donated.

NATIONAL, INTERNATIONAL, AND COMMUNITY

James is Co-chair, World Book Night 2013; He is founding partner with the duch*ess of Cornwall of the Children’s Reading Fund (UK); and James is Vice Chairman of the Board for WXEL-TV, South Florida’s public television station.

In May 2015, Patterson launched a children’s book imprint at Little, Brown—JIMMY Patterson—that is unwaveringly focused on one goal: turning kids into lifelong readers. This imprint also provides resources, strategies, and programs to serve teachers, parents, librarians, and booksellers. Patterson invests proceeds from the sales of JIMMY Patterson Books in pro-reading initiatives.

Patterson also founded ReadKiddoRead.com, a website designed to help parents, teachers, and librarians ignite a new generation’s excitement for reading. Awarded the National Book Foundation’s Innovations in Reading Prize and the American Library Association’s Great Websites for Kids, the site features thoughtful book reviews from a variety of genres and age ranges, a large and lively Facebook community, and contributions from other authors.

Patterson’s awards for adult and children’s literature include the Edgar Award, the International Thriller of the Year Award, and the Children’s Choice Award for Author of the Year. For his initiatives in helping kids become passionate readers and for his philanthropic efforts, Patterson was presented with the National Book Foundation’s Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community.

  • NOW AVAILABLE
Ali Cross: The Graphic Novel
Hard to Kill
Tiger, Tiger
Confessions of the Dead
Obsessed
James Patterson – About James (2024)

FAQs

Who was James Patterson inspired by? ›

Patterson later said that his greatest influence was probably Evan S. Connell's 1959 debut novel Mrs. Bridge. In 1976, Patterson published his first novel, The Thomas Berryman Number.

What is considered the best James Patterson book? ›

1. Along Came a Spider (1993) Patterson's Along Came a Spider is frequently regarded as one of Patterson's standout works, specifically because it kicked off his highly successful Alex Cross series. The novel is often regarded as Patterson's entry into the big leagues of thriller writing.

Is James Patterson Catholic? ›

There was the time that Patterson and a fellow altar boy—Patterson grew up in a devoutly Catholic family—almost got caught with a stash of unconsecrated Communion hosts that his friend had squirrelled away for post-Mass snacking.

How did James Patterson meet his wife Sue? ›

Sometime in 1997, James Patterson and Susan Olie tied the knot. James and Susan started dating after they met while working at the since-rebranded advertising company, J Walter Thompson. Prior to landing a position with JWT, she graduated with an arts degree from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in 1979.

Who is the highest selling author of all time? ›

Agatha Christie is acknowledged as the all time best-selling fiction author. It is estimated that she has sold over 2 billion copies of her books. Her book sales are only exceeded by The Bible and the works of William Shakespeare.

What is the #1 most read book? ›

With over 5 billion copies sold and distributed, the Bible takes the top spot as the most read and widely distributed book in the world. It is considered the holy scripture of Christianity and is also revered by Judaism.

Have any of James Patterson's books become movies? ›

James Patterson Movies to Watch
  • Miracle on the 17th Green (1999) This sports drama revolves around the game of golf. ...
  • First to Die (2003) Homicide inspector Lindsay Boxer is dealing with a lot. ...
  • Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas (2005) Christina Applegate stars as Dr. ...
  • Sundays at Tiffany's (2010)
Jul 11, 2019

What author is most like James Patterson? ›

Who To Read If You Like James Patterson?
  1. Dani Pettrey. Bestselling author Dani Pettrey is first in the list of authors like James Patterson. ...
  2. David Baldacci. ...
  3. Frank Peretti. ...
  4. James Scott Bell. ...
  5. Janet Evanovich. ...
  6. John Grisham. ...
  7. 7. Lee Child. ...
  8. Robert Ludlum.
Mar 15, 2024

Is James Patterson Democrat or Republican? ›

James W. Patterson
James Patterson
Political partyRepublican
SpouseSarah Parker Wilder
Children2
EducationDartmouth College (BA)
18 more rows

Does James Patterson have a PHD? ›

Patterson studied English at Manhattan College (B.A., 1969) and at Vanderbilt University (M.A., 1970). After abandoning graduate school—he had originally intended to complete a doctorate—he found employment as a junior copywriter at an advertising agency, J. Walter Thompson Co., in New York City.

Why is James Patterson so popular? ›

James Patterson is one of the world's most prolific and popular fiction writers, thanks to a fast-paced style and genre-spanning oeuvre, his collaboration (by fax!) with coauthors, and the marketing savvy he acquired as an ad executive.

Does James Patterson really write his own books? ›

James Patterson's Ghostwriting Process

To maintain this incredible production rate, he now co-authors almost all his books, functioning partly as executive producer and partly as head writer. Patterson's formula for the many novels that have made him the best-selling author on the planet since 2001 is simple.

What president did James Patterson write a book with? ›

In 2018, former US President Bill Clinton co-authored a novel with James Patterson, the world's bestselling author.

What is James Patterson Honeymoon about? ›

Patterson continued to publish stand-alone novels as well. Among them were Honeymoon (2005), which traces the efforts of an FBI agent to track down a femme fatale, and Sail (2008), which centres on a family trying to evade hit men while on a boat trip.

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