2012 keynote: James Rollins, author of The Devil Colony
In his most controversial and eye-opening book to date, bestseller James Rollins delves in to the secrets and lies surrounding the founding of the United States of America. In THE DEVIL COLONY (William Morrow, ISBN 9780061784781, $27.99) SIGMA Force—the scientists and ex-special forces soldiers that form an elite unit funded by the Department of Defense’s DARPA division—becomes embroiled in a centuries-old puzzle, one coded in the nation’s most important founding documents.
James Rollins is the bestselling author of six Sigma Force thrillers (Sandstorm, Map of Bones, Black Order, The Judas Strain, The Last Oracle and The Doomsday Key), the novelization of Lucasfilm’s blockbuster movie, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and five individual adventure thrillers. His novels have been deemed perfect “summer reads” by reviewers in publications as diverse as People magazine, USA Today, and Publisher’s Weekly.
Known for building high-octane adventures on a solid science foundation, Rollins juxtaposes the familiar with the exotic and then turbo-charges his tales with suspense. Always mindful of history’s legacy, Rollins reveals how secrets, some hidden for centuries, can change the course of human events. His novels explore how advancing technology can affect society – not just the physical threats of unchecked advancements, but also the spiritual and moral challenges. “The true terror of technology is not the cogs and the wheels, but how it will change us,” he explains.
The exotic locales of James Rollins’ novels have emerged as a hybrid between imagination, research, and his extensive travels throughout the United States and Europe, as well as New Zealand, the South Pacific, China, Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia, and South America. In recent years, much of Rollins’ travel has involved meeting readers in small and large groups, at writing and fan conferences, and even aboard seagoing “seminars.”
James Rollins decided to become a writer as a boy immersed in the scientific adventures of Doc Savage, the wonders of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, and pulps featuring The Shadow, The Spider, and The Avenger. He honed his storytelling skills early, spinning elaborate tales that often were at heart of pranks played on his brothers and sisters.
Yet although his talent emerged and grew, writing was not Jim’s original profession. Before he would set heroes and villains on harrowing adventures, he embarked on a career in veterinary medicine, graduating from the University of Missouri and establishing a successful veterinary clinic in Sacramento, California, where he still volunteers today. This hands-on knowledge of medicine and science helps shape the research and scientific speculation that set James Rollins books apart.
In 2005, Rollins joined with other luminaries in the genre to create International Thriller Writers, Inc., to recognize and promote the thriller genre, provide opportunities for mentoring, education, and collegiality among authors and industry professionals, and to grant awards for excellence in the genre. This past fall Jim and four other bestselling thriller writers took part in the USO’s first authors’ tour to a region of conflict—OPERATION THRILLER.
When Jim is not writing, touring or teaching seminars, he can be found spelunking, scuba diving, hiking, and traveling. Jim and his two- and four-legged family members live amid chew toys and paleontological treasures in Northern California.
For more information, please visit http://www.jamesrollins.com/.
