James Patterson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids James Patterson
Patterson in 2024
Born	James Brendan Patterson (1947-03-22) March 22, 1947 (age 78) Newburgh, New York, U.S.
Alma mater	Manhattan University (BA) Vanderbilt University (MA)
Genre	Mystery, young adult fiction, thriller, comedy, realistic fiction, romance, science fiction, fantasy
Notable works	Alex Cross series Women's Murder Club series Maximum Ride series Michael Bennett series Middle School series I Funny series
Spouse	Susan Patterson ​ (m. 1997)​
Children	1

James Brendan Patterson (born March 22, 1947) is a very famous American author. He has written many popular book series, including Alex Cross, Women's Murder Club, and Maximum Ride. He also writes books for young readers like the Middle School series.

James Patterson's books have sold over 425 million copies worldwide. He was also the first author to sell one million e-books. He has been recognized as one of the highest-paid authors for several years. In 2015, he received the Literarian Award for his work promoting reading. He has given millions of dollars to universities, teachers, bookstores, and libraries to help more people read.

Early Life and Education

James Patterson was born on March 22, 1947, in Newburgh, New York. His mother, Isabelle, was a homemaker and teacher, and his father, Charles, worked as an insurance broker. His family was working-class and had Irish roots.

Patterson went to Manhattan College and earned a bachelor's degree in English. He then continued his studies at Vanderbilt University, where he received a master's degree in English.

Writing Career

Before becoming a full-time writer, James Patterson worked in advertising. He published his first novel, The Thomas Berryman Number, in 1976. After leaving advertising in 1996, he focused completely on writing.

Popular Book Series

Patterson's most famous books are the ones featuring his character Alex Cross. Alex Cross is a smart psychologist who used to work for the police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). These books are the best-selling detective series in the U.S.

Patterson has written more than 200 novels since 1976. He holds a Guinness World Record for having the most #1 The New York Times bestselling novels by a single author. His books sell more copies than many other famous authors combined.

Awards and Recognition

James Patterson has won many awards for his writing. These include the Edgar Award for mystery writing and the Children's Choice Book Award for Author of the Year. He was the first author to have #1 books on both the adult and children's bestseller lists at the same time. In 2019, he received the National Humanities Medal, a special award from the U.S. government.

He has also appeared on TV shows like The Simpsons and Castle playing himself.

Working with Co-Authors

James Patterson often works with other writers to create his books. He believes that working with co-authors brings new and exciting ideas to his stories. He has said that he is very good at coming up with plots, but he enjoys having others help with the detailed writing. One notable collaboration was with former U.S. President Bill Clinton on the crime novel The President Is Missing.

Promoting Reading

James Patterson is passionate about helping people, especially kids, discover the joy of reading.

PageTurner Awards and ReadKiddoRead

In 2005, Patterson started the James Patterson PageTurner Awards. These awards gave money to people and groups who found creative ways to encourage reading. Later, he paused these awards to focus on a new project called ReadKiddoRead.com. This website helps parents, teachers, and librarians find good books for children. He started this website because his own son, Jack, was a reluctant reader, and he wanted to help other kids.

Scholarships and Donations

Patterson has also set up scholarships for students studying to become teachers at several universities. He also had a program called College Book Bucks to help college students buy books. His company, JP Entertainment, also works on creating TV shows and movies.

Personal Life

James Patterson lives in Palm Beach, Florida, with his wife, Susan. They have one son named Jack, who was born in 1998.

In 2015, Patterson partnered with Scholastic Book Clubs to create the James Patterson Pledge. This program helps get books into the hands of young readers across the country.

Works

Adaptations of His Books

Many of James Patterson's books have been turned into movies and TV shows.

Film

• Kiss the Girls (1997), based on his novel
• Along Came a Spider (2001), based on his novel
• Alex Cross (2012), based on his novel Cross
• Maximum Ride (2016), based on his Maximum Ride series
• Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life (2016), based on his children's novel
• The Postcard Killings (2020), based on his novel The Postcard Killers

Television (selected)

• Child of Darkness, Child of Light (1991), based on his novel Virgin
• First to Die (2003), based on his novel 1st to Die
• Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas (2005), based on his novel
• Women's Murder Club (2007–2008), a TV series based on his book series
• Sundays at Tiffany's (2010), based on his novel
• Zoo (2015–2017), a TV series based on his novel
• Instinct (2018–2019), a TV series based on his novel Murder Games
• Cross (2024), a TV series

Filmography

Television Appearances

See also

In Spanish: James Patterson para niños