David Baldacci facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Baldacci
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Baldacci at the 2015 National Book Festival
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| Born | August 5, 1960 Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Education | Virginia Commonwealth University (BA) University of Virginia (JD) |
| Period | 1996–present |
| Genre | Thrillers, children's literature |
| Notable works | Absolute Power |
| Spouse |
Michelle Collin
(m. 1990) |
| Children | 2 |
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David Baldacci, born on August 5, 1960, is a famous American writer. He mostly writes exciting suspense stories and legal thrillers. Before becoming a full-time author, he worked as a lawyer. His books are read all over the world, in more than 45 languages and 80 countries. Over 130 million copies of his books have been sold!
Contents
Early Life and School
David Baldacci grew up in Richmond, Virginia. He went to Henrico High School. After high school, he studied political science at Virginia Commonwealth University. He then earned a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. For nine years, he worked as a lawyer in Washington, D.C..
Becoming a Writer
David Baldacci started writing stories when he was a child. His mother gave him a notebook to write down his ideas. He wrote for over 20 years, creating short stories and screenplays. However, these early writings did not become very successful.
While he was working as a lawyer, he decided to try writing a novel. It took him three years to write his first book, Absolute Power. When it was published in 1996, it became a huge international best-seller. Since then, Baldacci has written 50 novels for adults. He has also written seven books specifically for younger readers.
Family and Helping Others
David Baldacci lives in Fairfax County, Virginia, with his family. He has a daughter and a son.
David and his wife, Michelle, started a group called the Wish You Well Foundation. This foundation helps fight illiteracy in the United States. They give money to programs that teach adults how to read and write. Baldacci also supports the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He became involved after his sister, Sharon Baldacci, was diagnosed with MS. In 2008, his foundation teamed up with Feeding America. Together, they launched a program called Feeding Body & Mind.
Baldacci has also been a part of the board of trustees for the Mark Twain House & Museum for over ten years. This museum is in Hartford, Connecticut. In 2019, he gave $1 million to help the museum.
Popular Books and Movies
Baldacci's first novel, Absolute Power, is about a fictional American president. It tells the story of how the president and his Secret Service agents try to hide an accidental death. This book was made into a movie in 1997. The film starred famous actors like Clint Eastwood and Gene Hackman.
Baldacci also wrote the screenplay for the movie based on his novel Wish You Well. This movie was filmed in southwest Virginia. It featured actors like Ellen Burstyn, Josh Lucas, and Mackenzie Foy.
His characters Sean King and Michelle Maxwell became a TV series called King & Maxwell on TNT. Jon Tenney and Rebecca Romijn played the main roles.
Another one of Baldacci's novels, The Christmas Train, was made into a TV movie in 2017. It was a Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation on the Hallmark Channel. The movie starred Dermot Mulroney, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Danny Glover, and Joan Cusack.
In 2021, his novel One Summer was adapted for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. The movie featured Sam Page, Sarah Drew, and Amanda Schull.
By 2018, Baldacci's novels had been published in over 45 languages. They were available in more than 80 countries. Over 130 million copies of his books have been sold worldwide.
Book and TV Show Adaptations
- Absolute Power (1997 film), starring Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, and Ed Harris
- King & Maxwell (2013 TV series), starring Jon Tenney and Rebecca Romijn
- Wish You Well (2013 film), starring Mackenzie Foy, Josh Lucas, and Ellen Burstyn
- The Christmas Train (2017 film), starring Dermot Mulroney, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Danny Glover and Joan Cusack
- One Summer (2021 film), starring Sam Page, Sarah Drew and Amanda Schull
Awards and Recognition
David Baldacci has received several awards for his writing:
- In 2005, his book Hour Game won the Virginia Literary Award for Fiction.
- His novel The Sixth Man also won the Virginia Literary Award for Fiction in 2012.
- In 2014, King and Maxwell won the Virginia Literary Award for Fiction.
- The Hit won an Audie Award for Thriller or Suspense in 2014.
- His book One Good Deed won the Nero Award in 2020.
- He received the Silver Bullet Award from the International Thriller Writers Awards in 2008.
- In 2011, he won The People's Bestseller Dagger at the Crime Thriller Awards.
- The Library of Virginia gave him a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017.
- In 2024, he was honored with the PEN/Faulkner Literary Champion award.
See also
In Spanish: David Baldacci para niños
