What not to talk about

J.D. Barker

J. D. Barker isn't one of those authors who dreamed of writing since childhood. His early work was published in a high school magazine, but it stood so far above the average that the editor-in-chief of 25th Parallel magazine offered him a job. Barker spent several turbulent years on the editorial staff there with a person who would later become famous as Marilyn Manson. Alongside his journalism, Barker also began writing books. He sent excerpts from his debut novel-in-progress to Stephen King and asked if he could use the name of one of his characters. King not only gave his permission but also offered enthusiastic encouragement for his future writing. A whole series of international successes followed, the greatest of which to date is The Fourth Monkey. According to reviewers, Barker's trilogy featuring detective Sam Porter has pushed the boundaries of the genre. In it, Barker has created a psychopathic killer who has something of the anti-heroes from The Silence of the Lambs or the film Seven; he is dark, terrifying, and fascinating.