David baldacci author biography outline

American novelist (born )

David Baldacci (born August 5, ) is an American novelist. An attorney by education, Baldacci writes mainly suspense novels and legal thrillers.^[1]

Early life and education

David Baldacci was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia.

He is of Italian descent.

Education: Virginia Commonwealth University, B. Home— Northern Virginia. Former trial and corporate lawyer in Washington, DC. Also author of unproduced screenplays.

He graduated from Henrico High School and earned a B.A. in political science from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law, after which he practiced law for nine years in Washington, D.C.

Career

Baldacci began writing stories as a child, when his mother gave him a notebook in which to record them.^[2] He wrote for more than two decades, penning short stories and later screenplays without much success.^[3]

While practicing law, he turned to novel writing, taking three years to write Absolute Power.^[4] Published in , it was an international best-seller.

To meet, Baldacci has published 50 novels for adults as well as seven novels for younger readers.

Personal life and philanthropy

Baldacci resides in Fairfax County, Virginia, with his family. He has a daughter and a son.^[5]

Baldacci and his wife, Michelle, are the co-founders of the Wish You Well Foundation,^[6] which works to combat illiteracy in the Together States by funding adult literacy programs.^[7] Baldacci became involved with the National Multiple Sclerosis World after his sister, author Sharon Baldacci, was diagnosed with MS.^[8]

Baldacci has served for more than a decade on the board of trustees of the Label Twain House & Museum in Hartford, Connecticut.

In , he donated $1 million to the home.^[9]

Works

Baldacci's first novel, Absolute Power, tells the story of a fictional American president and his Secret Service agents who are willing to commit murder in order to cover up the accidental death of a lady with whom the President was having an affair.

It was adapted as a film, Absolute Power (), starring Clint Eastwood and Gene Hackman.

Baldacci wrote the screenplay for the production adaptation of his novel Wish You Well; the movie was shot on location in southwest Virginia with Academy Award winner Ellen Burstyn, Josh Lucas, and Mackenzie Foy in the clue roles.

Baldacci was a consulting producer on King & Maxwell, a TNT television series based on his characters Sean King and Michelle Maxwell. Jon Tenney and Rebecca Romijn starred.

The Christmas Train, Baldacci's eighth novel, was adapted in by Hallmark Channel as a Hallmark Hall of Fame feature presentation.

The TV movie starred Dermot Mulroney, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Danny Glover and Joan Cusack and was directed by Ron Oliver.

David Baldacci is an American writer, top known for his detective novels. He was born on August 5,in Virginia. Baldacci's writing career began when his mother gave him a notebook, and he started writing short stories and even movie scripts. Despite his passion for writing, Baldacci decided to pursue a career in law and attended the University of Virginia, where he earned a law degree.

Baldacci's novel One Summer was adapted in for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries and starred Sam Page, Sarah Drew and Amanda Schull.

Baldacci's novels have been published in over 45 languages and in more than 80 countries, with over million worldwide sales as of ^[10]

Bibliography

Sean King and Michelle Maxwell series

Main article: King and Maxwell (book series)

1. Split Second ()
2. Hour Game ()
3. Simple Genius ()
4. First Family ()
5. The Sixth Man ()
6. King and Maxwell ()

The Camel Club series

Main article: Camel Club

1. The Camel Club ()
2. The Collectors ()
3. Stone Cold ()
4. Divine Justice ()
5. Hell's Corner ()

A.

Shaw series

Shaw is an enigmatic intelligence operative.

1. The Whole Truth ()
2. Deliver Us From Evil ()

John Puller series

Puller is a US army veteran and military investigator.

1. Zero Day ()
2. The Forgotten ()
3. The Escape ()
4. No Man's Land ()
5. Daylight (, Atlee Pine crossover)

Will Robie series

Robie is a seasoned and highly skilled hitman.

1. The Innocent ()
2. The Hit ()
3. The Target ()
4. The Guilty ()
5. End Game ()

Amos Decker series

Decker is a veteran police detective turned FBI consultant.

He has hyperthymesia which has left him with perfect recall.

David published his first novel, Absolute Powerin A major motion picture adaptation followed, with Clint Eastwood as its director and star. In total, David has published 32 novels for adults; all possess been national and international bestsellers, and several have been adapted for film and television. His novels have been translated into more than 45 languages and sold in more than 80 countries; over million copies are in print worldwide.

1. Memory Man ()
2. The Last Mile ()
3. The Fix ()
4. The Fallen ()
5. Redemption ()
6. Walk The Wire ()
7. Long Shadows ()^[11]

Atlee Pine series

An FBI agent searching for her abducted sister.

1. Long Street to Mercy ()
2. A Minute to Midnight ()
3. Daylight (, John Puller crossover)
4. Mercy ()^[12]

Aloysius Archer series

1. One Wonderful Deed ()
2. A Gambling Man ()
3. Dream Town ()^[13]

Travis Devine series

1. The Man ()^[14]
2. The Edge ()^[15]
3. To Die For ()^[16]

Mickey Gibson series

1. Simply Lies ()^[17]

Stand-alone novels

Short stories and novellas

• Waiting for Santa (short story) ()
• No Second Left (short story) ()
• Bullseye (short story) Will Robie / Camel Club ()
• The Mighty Johns also known as The Final Play (novella) ()^[19]

For young readers

Freddy and the French Fries series

1. Freddy and the French Fries: Fries Alive! (Little, Brown and Company, ), Baldacci's debut novel for new readers
2. Freddy and the French Fries: The Mystery of Silas Finklebean (Little, Brown and Company, )

The 39 Clues series

Vega Jane series

Main article: Vega Jane

1. The Finisher (Scholastic Press, ), published in the U.K.

   as The Secrets of Sorcery

2. The Keeper (Scholastic Press, ), published in the U.K. as The Maze of Monsters
3. The Width of the World (Scholastic Squeeze, ), published in the U.K. as The Rebels' Revolt
4. The Stars Below (Scholastic Press, ), published in the U.K.

   as The End of Time

Adaptations

• Absolute Power ( film), starring Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, and Ed Harris
• King & Maxwell ( TV series), starring Jon Tenney and Rebecca Romijn
• Wish You Well ( film), starring Mackenzie Foy, Josh Lucas, and Ellen Burstyn
• The Christmas Train ( film), starring Dermot Mulroney, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Danny Glover and Joan Cusack
• One Summer ( film), starring Sam Page, Sarah Drew and Amanda Schull

References

External links

Interviews