

Because he is so incredibly prolific, it comes as no surprise that other writers have dismissed him at times. James Patterson's ultimate goal, after all, is to write bestsellers. He believes that a writer should attempt to actually feel what their characters are going through in a given scenario, lending credibility, and empathy to their writing. Funding hundreds of teaching scholarships at several universities and colleges - many of which are HBCUs - Patterson indeed puts his money where his mouth is.įor Patterson, successful writing starts with "being there" with the characters. Alongside his wife, Sue, Patterson has also donated a great deal to education. He has given a quarter of a million copies of his books to public schools and sent over a half million to American soldiers. In fact, giving to charity has become one of the great passions of his life. James Patterson is not the type of rich person who keeps all of their profits to themselves. Having been presented with the Edgar Award and many other tributes to his talent, Patterson has become a household name with fans all over the world. Over the years, his creative efforts have also been honored by the community at large. This is reflected in his vast net worth, which is reputed to be anywhere been $500 to $800 million. It's a stunning number, but demand for Patterson's books has been historically high. As of this date, he has now written over 200 novels. Over 100 Novels on The New York Times Bestsellers' ListĪfter a brief stint as an advertising exec, Patterson completed his first fiction novel. He would graduate with his Bachelor of Arts and go on to attend Vanderbilt University for his Masters's degree.

Patterson, who had a great thirst for knowledge, would end up at Manhattan College majoring in English. His Irish-American parents were certainly not wealthy or connected. In fact, his home was rather religious, with his Roman Catholic priests and nuns often showing up to see his devout mother. These days, his works are still read by young adults and basically all other demographics - but you're more likely to catch sight of one of his attractive covers on a Kindle.Īn Unremarkable Upbringing That Yielded One of the World's Most Beloved Authorsīorn in New York state to parents who taught and sold insurance, Patterson's early life did not necessarily portend the wild twists and turns that would later take place in his thrillers. Indeed, the prolific author cranked out a multitude of magnificent novels that appealed to the general masses. In the days when paperback novels reigned supreme, it was impossible to hop on an airplane without seeing several noses buried into the latest James Patterson thrillers. Author Biographies and Other Books James Patterson Biography The Most Addictive Novels in the World
