James Patterson (born March 22, 1947, in Newburgh, New York) is one of the world's most prolific and bestselling authors, known for his Alex Cross, Michael Bennett, and Women's Murder Club series, among many others. His books have sold over 425 million copies worldwide, and he made history as the first author to sell one million e-books, while topping Forbes' highest-paid authors list three years in a row with a $95 million income in 2016. After starting his career in advertising, Patterson published his first novel, The Thomas Berryman Number, in 1976, and has since written more than 200 books, setting a Guinness World Record for the most #1 New York Times bestsellers by a single author (67). He frequently collaborates with co-authors, most famously teaming up with President Bill Clinton for the 2018 thriller The President Is Missing. Beyond his commercial success, Patterson has won prestigious awards like the Edgar Award and the National Humanities Medal (2019), and he has donated millions to literacy programs, bookstores, and universities.