About Lincoln Child
Lincoln Child is an author of techno-thriller and horror novels. Often paired with writing partner
Douglas Preston, many of their novels have become bestsellers and one, Relic, was adapted
into a feature film. Child and Preston's books are known for their thorough research, making their
stories credible and believable.
Born in Westport, Connecticut, but now a New Jersey resident, Child graduated from Carleton
College in Northfield, Minnesota, with a major in English.
Soon afterwards in 1979, he secured a job as an editorial assistant at St. Martin's Press. By
1984, Child would achieve the position as full editor. While in this position, Child edited hundreds
of books, most titles being American and English fiction.
In 1987 after founding the company's mass-market horror division, Child left the St. Martin's
Press to become a Systems Analyst at MetLife. While in this position, Child's first novel, Relic,
was published. He left the company a few years later to write full time.
HIs solo works include Utopia, Death Match, and Deep Storm.
Visit his website at: www.prestonchild.com
Lincoln Child is an author of techno-thriller and horror novels. Often paired with writing partner
Douglas Preston, many of their novels have become bestsellers and one, Relic, was adapted
into a feature film. Child and Preston's books are known for their thorough research, making their
stories credible and believable.
Born in Westport, Connecticut, but now a New Jersey resident, Child graduated from Carleton
College in Northfield, Minnesota, with a major in English.
Soon afterwards in 1979, he secured a job as an editorial assistant at St. Martin's Press. By
1984, Child would achieve the position as full editor. While in this position, Child edited hundreds
of books, most titles being American and English fiction.
In 1987 after founding the company's mass-market horror division, Child left the St. Martin's
Press to become a Systems Analyst at MetLife. While in this position, Child's first novel, Relic,
was published. He left the company a few years later to write full time.
HIs solo works include Utopia, Death Match, and Deep Storm.
Visit his website at: www.prestonchild.com
Lincoln Child -- April 12, 2008
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Greetings Friends and Fans! If you were not at the Borders Garden State Plaza on Saturday 4/12
for the April edition of our Face the Fiction event, then you missed a great one. Not only did we
premiere the all-new Whispers from Beyond special event for before the event, but we also had
a great time with our special guest, Lincoln Child.
Unfortunately for me, Craig and I got stuck at the restaurant before the event, and were a bit late
for the Whispers from Beyond portion of the event. Thankfully, our good and dear friend, Kate
Landis, was on hand to start the ball rolling and get folks in the mood to read. The store had set
up the microphone, and during the time that I was there, we heard from several cool folks
including Chris Hasselkus (reading from Richard Adams' classic Watership Down), myself
(reading from Naomi Novick's His Majesty's Dragon), and Eugene McGrath (reading from Lincoln
Child's Utopia). During the reading of the prologue to Utopia, the special guest arrived and
watched as Gene read the passages with verve and élan (and was a good sport when we
swapped him out for the the author).
Lincoln Child was introduced with fanfare and excitement, and immediately launched into a brief
overview of his credentials and background. He started as an editor with a passion for the
Museum of Natural History in New York City, where he had an extensive private tour (including
yucky dermested beetles and amazing dinosaur bones in the basement). He then approached
Douglas Preston to write a non-fiction book about the museum. Somehow that led to the two
intrepid fellows sitting on the porch and discussing what would eventually become the New York
Times Bestselling book Relic. Linc did say that he really enjoyed the movie and was happy with
it (especially after he read all of the clauses in his phonebook sized contract, lol).
The conversation then turned to the ins and outs of writing with a partner (which Mr. Child prefers
to writing alone) as well as his loves and hates regarding writing, publishing, and other such
topics. He prefers to write without distractions and collaborate with another person to get a more
coherent story (and yell when there is a disagreement). Sandy Schlosser asked many great
questions about Riptide, a story about the Holly Island treasure (and pirates), while John asked a
number of questions about several of the Pendergast books (especially Cabinet of Curiosities
and Still Life With Crows). Many others asked questions about motivation, writing technique,
where to get ideas, and much more. The evening ended a bit earlier than normal due to illness
(our guest came all the way out to speak to us even though he had strep throat!).
The group then adjourned to the Suburban Diner to talk about Anime, Horror, Fruit Cups, and
pose the question of "What if Bill Cosby had been cast as Emperor Palpatine?" Jell-O Jedi! The
Vanilla and Chocolate sides of the force! Stormtroopers say the Darnedest Things! (Todd)
Lincoln Child was awesome - even with strep throat. He not only answered all of our questions
(and there were a lot) but also read from Relic! He was engaging, good-natured and quite a
trooper. He even offered to come back when he was feeling better. Great guest, good meeting.
(Ann-Marie)