April 28th, 2008 by zen2008

I was born in New York City, read my first book at the age of three, and progressed quickly from the life lessons of LITTLE TOOT to the otherworldly epics of Brian Jacques, Terry Brooks and Stephen King, I soon began to pen short stories that, unsurprisingly, read like ‘D’ grade knockoffs of Brian Jacques, Terry Brooks and Stephen King. At least I aimed high.

Through high school I dreamed of being a screenwriter, and took various jobs atproduction companies to learn more about the industry, including Jon Stewart’s Busboy Productions.

I attended Wesleyan University, played offensive and defensive line for the Cardinals’ football team, joined a fraternity, and read far less for pleasure than I would have liked.

During my junior year, I decided I wanted to be a writer. Heeding words of advice from my physician who’d written a book (”The first thing any writer needs is an agent”), I began querying literary agents. His advice omitted the fact that in order to get an agent, you needed to have an actual book.

After a half-hearted attempt to find an agent for my, um, nothing, I decided to get an insider’s perspective on the publishing world. I took an internship at a boutique literary agency in New York, where my first day on the job consisted of lunch at Mickey Mantle’s restaurant with a bestselling sportswriter. Needless to say, every day in publishing has been just as glamorous (cue coughing fit).

In between opening queries and answering phones, I fell in love with editorial work, helping authors to hone their manuscripts and proposals. Putting my literary aspirations on hold, I decided to pursue a career in editorial.

I interned at the agency the summer, racking up $726,374 in E-Z Pass fees commuting to work and to visit my girlfriend (who later became my wife).

After finishing school I took a spot as an editorial assistant at a publishing house. It was during my tenure there that I began work on my debut thriller, HERO OF THE DAY, featuring young reporter Henry Parker. This book eventually became THE MARK.

I eventually sold THE MARK to MIRA Books in a three-book deal, and found my publishing journey had come full circle. And after working in editorial for nearly five years, I left to pursue my dream of writing full time.

I am a member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America and a founding member of Killer Year. I live in New York City, am married to my college sweetheart, and still don’t read nearly enough as I’d like.

I hope you enjoy my books.

Jason

My Favorite:

Authors (alive):

Dennis Lehane, Harlan Coben, Lisa Scotto line, P.J. Parrish, Stephen King, Bill Simmons, Lee Child, James Patterson, Michael Chabon, James Rollins, Michael Connelly, Margaret Atwood, Joseph Finder, Janet Fitch, Max Barry, Jeff Abbott, Allison Brennan, Chuck Palahniuk, Frank Miller, Terry Brooks, Karin Slaughter, Steve Berry, Dave Barry, Tess Gerritsen, David Sedaris, Michael Palmer, Charlie Huston, Thomas L. Friedman, Max Barry

Authors (not alive):

Ken Kesey, Joseph Heller, James Joyce, Raymond Chandler, James M. Cain, William Golding, Richard Wright, Dashiell Hammett, Kurt Vonnegut

Bands:

U2, Green Day, Bruce Springsteen, Creedance Clearwater Revival, Johnny Cash, Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan, Eminem, Linkin Park, Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, Aerosmith, Billy Joel, The Doors, Jeff Buckley, Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana, The Offspring, Pearl Jam, The Who

Movies:

L.A. Confidential, Sling Blade, North by Northwest, Evil Dead, Evil Dead 2, Army of Darkness, The Godfather (1 and II), Saving Private Ryan, Brave heart, Captains Courageous, Requiem for a Dream, Reservoir Dogs, Anchorman, Gladiator, This is Spinal Tap, Sideways, Clerks

T.V. Shows:

The Shield, Nip/Tuck, The Sopranos, The Wire, Arrested Development, The Simpsons, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, The Office (BBC version)