Born in 1947 in Newburgh, New York Patterson's first career was in advertising. In the eighties he was the youngest ever creative director and CEO at advertising agency J. Walter Thompson.

Patterson originally began writing in his spare time. His first novel The Thomas Berryman Murder was published in 1976 after being rejected by almost 30 publishers.

The creation of black homicide detective and single father Alex Cross made him famous. Internationally the first five Alex Cross books have sold over 50 million copies.

James Patterson lives with his wife and 3-year old son in Westchester, Manhattan.

His latest book 2nd Chance, was published in 2002.