Jonathan Dylan Barker (born 1971) is a New York Times and international bestselling American author of suspense thrillers, often incorporating elements of horror, crime, mystery, science fiction, and the supernatural.[1] His debut novel, Forsaken,[2] was a finalist for a Bram Stoker Award in 2014.[3][4]
Barker was born January 7, 1971, in Lombard, Illinois, and spent the first fourteen years of his life in Crystal Lake, Illinois. At fourteen, Barker's family relocated to Englewood, Florida. He attended Lemon Bay High School and graduated in 1989.[5] He enrolled at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, where he later obtained a degree in business. While in college, a writing assignment found its way into the hands of Paul Gallotta of Circus. Gallotta reached out to Barker and asked him to join the staff of 25th Parallel, where he worked alongside the man who would later become Marilyn Manson.[6] Assignments dropped him into the center of pop culture, and by 1991 Barker had branched out, interviewing celebrities for the likes of Seventeen, TeenBeat, and other national and local publications. In 1992, Barker syndicated a small newspaper column called "Revealed" which centered on the investigation of haunted places and supernatural occurrences.[7] He began work as a ghostwriter and book doctor, helping other authors for publication.[8][9] Barker cites Stephen King, Dean Koontz, John Saul, and Neil Gaiman among his influences.[10]
Stephen King read portions of Forsaken prior to publication and granted Barker permission to utilize the character of Leland Gaunt of King's Needful Things in the novel.[11] Indie-published in late 2014, the book went on to hit some major milestones - #2 on Audible (Harper Lee with Go Set a Watchman held #1), #44 on Amazon U.S., #2 on Amazon Canada, and #22 on Amazon UK.[2] Forsaken was also nominated for a Bram Stoker Award (Best Debut Novel) and won a handful of others, including a New Apple Medalist Award.[6] After reading Forsaken, Bram Stoker's family contacted Barker and asked him to co-author a prequel to Dracula utilizing Stoker's original notes and journals, much of which has never been made public.[12]
Barker's indie success drew the attention of traditional agents and publishers, and in early 2016 his debut thriller, The Fourth Monkey, sold in a series of pre-empts and auctions worldwide, with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt set to publish in the U.S. and HarperCollins in the UK. The book has also sold for both film and television.[13] In September 2017, Putnam purchased the publishing rights for Dracul in a five-house auction with additional publishers worldwide, and Paramount Pictures optioned the film rights, with Andy Muschietti set to direct.[14]
In addition to writing his own novels, Barker has collaborated with American author James Patterson. Their first novel together, titled The Coast-to-Coast Murders, debuted at number 2 on the New York Times list on October 11, 2020. Their second collaboration, The Noise, released in August 2021, became an instant New York Times bestseller, and has been optioned by Entertainment One. Their third release, Death of the Black Widow, released in April 2022, and also became an instant New York Times bestseller. The fourth was Confessions Of The Dead, published in 2024.
In July 2024 it was announced J.D. Barker would pen a novel to reboot the iconic Flatliners film franchise, tentatively titled: Flatliners: Resurrection. The original film, written by Peter Filardi, released in 1990 by Columbia Pictures, was directed by Joel Schumacher, and starred Kiefer Sutherland, Julia Roberts, Kevin Bacon, Billy Baldwin, and Oliver Platt. The novel is expected to honor the spirit of the original while pushing into new, uncharted territories.[15]
In January 2024, a number of book reviewers on TikTok and Instagram received an email from Best of BookTok—a PR firm focusing on social media influencers, which Barker co-founded—offering to pay reviewers to create racy content to promote his new book.[16] After book reviewers objected and posted publicly about the content of the email, Barker sent the first of two public apologies.[17] In an exclusive interview with LA Weekly, Barker later revealed the email was inadvertently sent to the wrong mailing list due to an error by a member of his staff.[16]
At the age of twenty-two, Barker was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, a condition on the Autism Spectrum. He often refers to autism as his "superpower." He credits the condition with giving him the ability to string together complex plots with exceptional attention to detail, hallmarks of his writing. Beyond his literary achievements, Barker is also a vocal advocate for autism awareness and acceptance. He uses his platform to challenge stereotypes and promote a deeper understanding of autism. Barker strives to foster a more inclusive and compassionate society through interviews, public appearances, and books. He believes that by sharing his experiences, he can help others see the potential in individuals with autism and encourage them to pursue their passions.[18] He frequently speaks about his experiences and works to break down the stigma surrounding neurodiversity.[19] When speaking to parents, he tells them, "Through treatment and therapy, their child can thrive. Their child can discover their superpower, hone it, and even surpass it. I'm proof."[20]