James Patterson's official biography

The subject of a Time magazine feature called, "The Man Who Can't Miss," James Patterson is the bestselling author of the past year, bar none, with more than 16 million books sold in North America alone. In 2007, one of every fifteen hardcover fiction books sold was a Patterson title. In the past three years, James has sold more books than any other author (according to Bookscan), and in total, James's books have sold an estimated 170 million copies worldwide. He is the first author to have #1 new titles simultaneously on The New York Times adult and children's lists and is the only author to have five new hardcover novels debut at #1 on the list in one year—a record-breaking feat he’s accomplished every year since 2005. To date, James Patterson has had nineteen consecutive #1 New York Times bestselling novels, and holds the New York Times record for most Hardcover Fiction bestselling titles by a single author (46 total), which is also a Guinness World Record.

From his James Patterson Pageturner Awards (which rewarded groups and individuals for creative and effective ways to spread the joy of reading) to his website ReadKiddoRead.com (which helps adults find books that kids are sure to love) to his regular donations of thousands of books to troops overseas, Patterson is a lifelong champion of books and reading. His first foray into books for all ages was the critically acclaimed Maximum Ride series, which debuted on the New York Times bestsellers list at #1 and remained there for twelve straight weeks. The series has so far made appearances on The New York Times bestsellers lists ninety-four cumulative times, proving that kids of all ages love page turners. He captured the attention of boy readers with The Dangerous Days of Daniel X and its follow-up, Daniel X: Watch the Skies. And, his third series for readers of all ages, the highly anticipated Witch & Wizard, is coming in December, 2009.

Patterson is the creator of the #1 new detective series of the past dozen years, featuring Alex Cross and including the Hollywood-adapted "Along Came a Spider" and "Kiss the Girls," starring Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman. He is also the creator of the #1 new detective series of the past five years, featuring Lindsay Boxer and the other members of the Women's Murder Club, from which the ABC television drama series was adapted. He has authored books behind six films on the Hollywood fast-track, including the upcoming Maximum Ride movie forthcoming from Avi Arad, the producer of X-Men and Spiderman.

He is the author of novels—from The Thomas Berryman Number (1976) to Honeymoon (2005)—that have won awards including the Edgar, the BCA Mystery Guild's Thriller of the Year, the International Thriller of the Year award, and the Reader’s Digest Reader’s Choice Award.

One of Forbes magazine's Celebrity 100, James made a guest appearance on the popular FOX TV show "The Simpsons" in March, 2007.

MICHAEL LEDWIDGE is the author of The Narrowback and Bad Connection and most recently was the coauthor with James Patterson of The Quickie, Step on a Crack, and Run for Your Life.

2009 Best Voice in CHILDREN & FAMILY LISTENING: IT'S TIME TO SLEEP, MY LOVE & ON THE NIGHT YOU WERE BORN

2008 Best Voice in MYSTERY & SUSPENSE: An Incomplete Revenge

Orlagh Cassidy was nicknamed “the dialect queen” in acting school at SUNY Purchase, but even with a successful serial television career (“Guiding Light,” “Law and Order: SVU”), she hadn’t used these skills often—until she found audiobooks. Her first audiobook, PARDONABLE LIES, by Jacqueline Winspear, received an Earphones Award in 2005, as has the third Maisie Dobbs mystery, AN INCOMPLETE REVENGE. Orlagh did get to use her Irish accent appearing off-Broadway last year in “The Field,” in which she played a mother of nine. She was nominated for a Drama Desk Award. However, there’s a difference, as every narrator knows, between one accent sustained throughout a play and more than a dozen accents of characters who pass in and out of scenes throughout a ten-hour audiobook. Orlagh was immediately fascinated and intrigued with these challenges. “You just don’t get to do many accents in usual acting work,” she tells us. “There was more ‘acting’ in one book than I’ve done in a long time.”

Orlagh’s parents came to the U.S. from Ireland, where her father had been involved with Irish radio. Her many childhood visits to Ireland surrounded her with relatives and friends. “I loved to imitate their voices,” Orlagh says. “My ear has always been tuned to different ways of speaking.” Orlagh’s sister, who recorded audiobooks as Frances Cassidy, recorded for Books on Tape for many years.

The reviewers of each audiobook Orlagh has done note her facility with the vocal portraits. She is part of the ensemble cast for the recent DUNE recording, and she shares dual narrations in MAKE HIM LOOK GOOD and PERFECT DARK. Single narrations include the Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs titles and CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT. Audiobook producer Garet Scott says Orlagh has the right stuff: “She’s got a lovely voice, she’s a terrific actress, and she’s a delight to work with. And that’s the audiobook trifecta.”

The “technical” aspects of audiobooks are also an allure. “You can’t move [in the recording booth]!” Orlagh reminds us. “You have to find a way to create the spirit and the tone of a character without moving. I love that challenge.” Facility in quick reading helps, and although speaking fast doesn’t help on every occasion, it’s a plus for Orlagh’s growing skills with audiobook narration. We hope to hear more!—Robin F. Whitten www.audiofilemagazine.com