John D. MacDonald facts for kids

John Dann MacDonald (born July 24, 1916 – died December 28, 1986) was a famous American writer. He wrote many exciting novels and short stories, especially thrillers. He is best known for his popular Travis McGee series and the novel The Executioners, which was made into the movie Cape Fear twice.

MacDonald was a very successful writer. He sold about 70 million books during his career. Many of his stories were set in Florida, where he lived.

Early Life and Education

John D. MacDonald was born in Sharon, Pennsylvania. His father worked for a company called Savage Arms. In 1926, his family moved to Utica, New York.

When he was 18, MacDonald chose to travel to Europe instead of going back to school right away. This trip made him interested in travel and photography.

He later went to the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He then transferred to Syracuse University, where he met Dorothy Prentiss. They got married in 1937. He finished his degree at Syracuse the next year. They had one son named Maynard.

In 1939, MacDonald earned a special business degree (an MBA) from Harvard University. He often used his knowledge of business and money in his books. Many of his novels feature stories about business deals or tricky financial situations.

Military Service During World War II

In 1940, MacDonald joined the United States Army Ordnance Corps as a first lieutenant. During World War II, he worked for the Office of Strategic Services. This group was important for gathering information. He served in places like China, Burma, and India. These areas later appeared in some of his early stories. He left the army in 1945 as a lieutenant colonel.

In 1951, MacDonald and his family moved from New York to Florida. They eventually settled in Sarasota.

Writing Career Highlights

Starting as a Writer

John D. MacDonald's first short story, "G-Robot," was published in 1936. After leaving the army in 1945, he spent four months writing a lot of stories. He wrote for 14 hours a day, seven days a week!

He got many rejections at first. But then, his story "Cash on the Coffin!" was published in 1946. He eventually sold almost 500 short stories to different magazines. Later, some of these early stories were put into two collections: The Good Old Stuff (1982) and More Good Old Stuff (1984).

Standalone Novels

Starting with The Brass Cupcake in 1950, MacDonald wrote over 40 standalone crime thrillers. Many of these books were set in Florida. One of his most famous standalone novels is The Executioners (1957). This book was made into the movie Cape Fear twice. Because the movies were so popular, the book was later republished under the Cape Fear title.

He also wrote three science fiction novels. One of them, The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything (1962), was made into a TV movie. After he started his Travis McGee series in 1964, he mostly focused on those books.

Introducing Travis McGee

In 1964, MacDonald published The Deep Blue Good-by. This was the first of 21 novels featuring his famous character, Travis McGee. Travis McGee calls himself a "salvage consultant." This means he helps people get back stolen property. He charges half of what he recovers as his fee.

Each Travis McGee book has a color in its title, like The Deep Blue Good-by. McGee lives a fun life on his houseboat in Florida. His adventures often take him to the Caribbean or Mexico. He often works with his smart friend, Dr. Meyer Meyer, who is an economist. Meyer helps Travis figure out complicated scams and business problems.

Later Life and Passing

John D. MacDonald had heart surgery in December 1986. After some problems, he went into a coma. He passed away on December 28, 1986, at the age of 70. He is buried in Poland, New York. He was survived by his wife, Dorothy, and his son, Maynard.

Books Made into Movies and TV Shows

Many of John D. MacDonald's books were turned into films and television shows:

• His novel Soft Touch became the 1961 film Man-Trap.
• The Executioners (1957) was filmed as Cape Fear in 1962. It starred Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum. Later, Martin Scorsese directed a new version of Cape Fear in 1991, starring Robert De Niro.
• The Drowner (1963) was made into a TV episode called "The Deep End" in 1964.
• Cry Hard, Cry Fast was adapted into a two-part TV episode in 1967.
• The Travis McGee novel Darker Than Amber was made into a film in 1970. Rod Taylor played Travis McGee.
• His story Linda was made into TV movies twice, in 1973 and 1993.
• The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything became a TV film in 1980. It even had a sequel in 1981.
• The 1980 TV film Condominium was based on his novel.
• Sam Elliott played Travis McGee in the 1983 TV movie Travis McGee, based on The Empty Copper Sea.
• The 1984 film A Flash of Green starred Ed Harris. The director was nominated for an award at the Sundance Film Festival.
• A movie based on The Deep Blue Good-by was planned to star Christian Bale. However, it was cancelled in 2015 due to an injury.

His Impact on Other Writers

A plaque at Bahia Mar marina, where Travis McGee's houseboat was docked in the novels.

Many mystery writers in Florida today say that John D. MacDonald influenced their work. These writers include Randy Wayne White and James W. Hall.

In 1972, the Mystery Writers of America gave MacDonald their highest award. It was called the Grand Master Award, given for his amazing writing over his lifetime.

Famous author Stephen King called MacDonald "the great entertainer of our age." Another writer, Kingsley Amis, said MacDonald was a better writer than some very famous authors.

In his books, Travis McGee lived on his 52-foot houseboat, the Busted Flush. It was docked at Slip F-18 in the Bahia Mar marina in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In 1987, a special "literary landmark plaque" was placed near where Slip F-18 would have been. After the docks were changed, the plaque was moved to the Dockmaster's office.