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Author Details

Author Details

Patterson, James

James Patterson is an award-winning American author. Formerly the chairman of advertising company J. W. Thompson in the early 1990s, Patterson came up with the slogan "Toys R Us Kid." Shortly after his success with Along Came A Spider, he retired from the firm and devoted his time to writing. The novels-featuring his character, Alex Cross, a black forensic psychologist formerly of the Washington, D.C. Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation, now working as a private psychologist and government consultant-are the most popular books among Patterson readers and the top selling US Detective series in the past ten years.

In 2007, one of every fifteen hardcover novels sold was a James Patterson title - totaling an estimated of 16 million books sold last year in North America alone. In total, Patterson's books have sold an estimated 150 million copies worldwide. He has won awards including the Edgar, the BCA Mystery Guild's Thriller of the Year, and the International Thriller of the Year award. James Patterson was called "the man who can't miss" in Time magazine. He is the first author to have #1 new titles simultaneously on The New York Times adult and children's bestsellers lists, and to have two books on NovelTracker's top-ten list at the same time..He holds the New York Times bestsellers list record with 39 New York Times bestselling titles overall.* He even made an appearance on the Fox TV show The Simpsons as himself.

Patterson is also well known for sharing the spotlight with different co-authors such as Maxine Paetro and Andrew Gross and has often said that collaborating with others brings new and interesting ideas to his stories.

He also founded the James Patterson PageTurner Awards, now in its third year. Patterson has personally given away over $600,000 to reward "people, companies, schools, and other institutions who find original and effective ways to spread the excitement of books and reading."

Patterson's bestselling Women's Murder Club series is now a TV show starring former Law & Order star Angie Harmon. The show premiered in the fall of 2007 on ABC television. Other movie deals are currently in the works with various Hollywood studios including a major motion picture based on his Maximum Ride series, to be produced by Avi Arad, the creator of X-Men and Spiderman. Most recently, the forthcoming Dangerous Days of Daniel X has been optioned by New Regency.

Patterson received his bachelor's degree from Manhattan College.

He lives in Palm Beach, Florida with his wife, Susan, and son, Jack.

Paetro, Maxine

Maxine Paetro is the author of three novels; Manshare, Babydreams, and Windfall, published between 1986 and 1991. She also wrote the biography, Dream Lovers, the Magnificent, Shattered Lives of Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee by Their Son, Dodd Darin in 1993. Her first book, How to Put Your Book Together and Get a Job in Advertising (non-fiction), was published for the first time in 1979 and is still in print today.

Paetro has collaborated with best-selling author James Patterson, co-writing The 4th of July, The 5th Horseman and The 6th Target, all New York Times #1 best sellers in the Women's Murder Club Series. The series' seventh book, 7th Heaven, also a Patterson/Paetro collaboration, was published in February, 2008.

From 1975 through 1987 Paetro was a recruiter and EVP creative department manager at several large New York City advertising agencies.

Her garden, Broccoli Hall, has been featured in national magazines including House & Garden, Victoria Magazine, and Country Garden and is on the Garden Conservancy Open Days Program.

Paetro is married to former surety bond executive, John A. Duffy, now founder and CEO of consulting company, Manhattan Bridge, LLC.