“I remember my wife telling me, ‘I want you to quit the day job and focus on your writing. I know you can do it,‘ J.D. Barker recalls, reflecting on the moment that changed the course of his career. It was a leap of faith, but one that would propel his name to become one of the most successful thriller authors of today.
For years, Barker helped others achieve bestseller status while his name remained in the shadows. “Over the next twenty years, six of my projects hit the New York Times Bestseller list, all with other people’s names on the cover,” he reveals. “That gets old after a while.“
With the support of his wife, Barker took a chance on himself. He quit his day job, sold his possessions, and moved to Pittsburgh with a singular focus: to write his own novel.
The result was “Forsaken,” a thriller that caught the attention of none other than Stephen King, who granted Barker permission to reference characters from his own work. It was a remarkable endorsement that set the stage for Barker’s meteoric rise.
Bringing Multiple Masterpieces in Thriller Literature
While “Forsaken” was greatly received, it was J.D. Barker’s novel, “The Fourth Monkey” that made him a household name. This novel both captivated a wide audience and set a new standard for psychological thrillers, earning Barker critical acclaim and solidifying his reputation as one of the world’s best thriller authors.
The book begins with an intriguing twist where the serial killer, known as the Four Monkey Killer (4MK), dies at the outset, a plot device that flips the typical story on its head. This opening sets the stage for a complex story that unfolds through the diary of the killer, found on his body by Detective Sam Porter.
The diary entries provide a chilling glimpse into the killer’s psyche, tracing his evolution from an innocent child to a meticulous murderer. Critics praised his narrative technique for keeping the killer “alive” in the story while maintaining a dark and tense atmosphere throughout the book.
The book’s success was further amplified by its comparison to classic thrillers like “Se7en” and “The Silence of the Lambs,” positioning Barker alongside the greats of the thriller genre. The book also inspired a fanbase eager for more of Barker’s work, leading to the continuation of the story in subsequent novels, “The Fifth to Die” and “The Sixth Wicked Child,” which explored the dark themes introduced in the first book.
Redefining the Thriller Genre
What sets Barker apart is his unique ability to blend genres seamlessly. His novels are a masterful fusion of horror, crime, mystery, science fiction, and the supernatural, creating a reading experience that is both thrilling and thought-provoking.
“I’ve always been drawn to the darker side of storytelling,” Barker admits. “I want to push the boundaries of the thriller genre, to take readers on a journey they’ve never been on before.“
His writing style is characterized by intricate plots, complex characters, and a keen attention to detail, making his stories feel authentic. “I want my readers to feel the suspense, to be unable to put the book down because they need to know what happens next,” Barker shares.
His extensive research and collaborations with renowned authors like James Patterson and Dacre Stoker have further solidified his reputation as a master of his craft.
New Changes in the Publishing Industry
When Barker’s success grew, he began to question the traditional publishing model. “I realized the world’s largest publishers were using the same tactics to sell books they used fifty years ago,” he explains. “They spent a lot of money at launch but it completely dried up three weeks later. Once that initial sales spike came and went, the book was forgotten.“
Determined to find a better way, Barker embarked on a quest to have a hybrid publishing approach. This is when he caught the attention of Simon & Schuster, who agreed to become the print and distribution arm of Barker’s imprint, Hampton Creek Press. This partnership allows Barker to maintain the benefits of being an indie author while taking advantage of the resources and reach of a major publisher.
“For successful indie authors, it doesn’t make sense to sign a traditional deal, even for a large advance,” Barker explains. “Not when you have to pay it back for pennies on the dollar. Indies earn more by publishing that same book on their own. For publishers, this new model takes away the risk. The financial burden is on us, the author. Working together we all profit, we all benefit. It’s a win/win for both parties.”
J.D. Barker is changing what it means to be a successful author in the modern era. With his unique storytelling prowess and approach to the business of writing, he is starting a new movement that will inspire other authors to follow suit.
“I write because I love it,” he says, “and I’m grateful to every reader who picks up my book and enters the worlds I create.” It’s this down-to-earth and appreciative attitude, coupled with his consistent output of high-quality thrillers, that has solidified his place as one of the world’s leading thriller authors.
His new book, “Behind a Closed Door,” will be available on May 13, 2024.