Ridley Pearson
Encyclopedia
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Glen Cove, New York
Glen Cove is a city in Nassau County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2010 Census, the city population was 26,964....
, is an American writer. Pearson has historically written suspense and thriller novels for an adult audience, but has also begun branching out by writing adventure books for children.
Literary career
Pearson's novels for adults include Undercurrents (1988), The Angel Maker (1993), No Witnesses (1994), Chain of Evidence (1995), Beyond Recognition (1997), and The Body of David Hayes (2004). Pearson became the first American to receive the Raymond ChandlerRaymond Chandler
Raymond Thornton Chandler was an American novelist and screenwriter.In 1932, at age forty-five, Raymond Chandler decided to become a detective fiction writer after losing his job as an oil company executive during the Depression. His first short story, "Blackmailers Don't Shoot", was published in...
-Fulbright Fellowship at Oxford University in 1991. Many of his stories are set in the neighborhoods in and around Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, many featuring the Seattle Police detective
Detective
A detective is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. The latter may be known as private investigators or "private eyes"...
Lou Boldt and forensic psychologist Daphne Mathews.
After his daughter asked him how Peter Pan
Peter Pan
Peter Pan is a character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie . A mischievous boy who can fly and magically refuses to grow up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood adventuring on the small island of Neverland as the leader of his gang the Lost Boys, interacting with...
met Captain Hook
Captain Hook
Captain James Hook is the main antagonist of J. M. Barrie's play Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up and its various adaptations. The character is a villainous pirate captain of the Jolly Roger brig, and lord of the pirate village/harbour in Neverland, where he is widely feared. Most...
, Pearson teamed up with his long-time friend humorist Dave Barry
Dave Barry
David "Dave" Barry is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American author and columnist, who wrote a nationally syndicated humor column for The Miami Herald from 1983 to 2005. He has also written numerous books of humor and parody, as well as comedic novels.-Biography:Barry was born in Armonk, New York,...
to co-author Peter and the Starcatchers
Peter and the Starcatchers
Peter and the Starcatchers is a best-selling children's novel that was published by Hyperion Books, a subsidiary of Disney, in 2004. Written by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, the book provides a backstory for the character Peter Pan, and serves as a prequel to J. M. Barrie's novel Peter and Wendy...
, a prequel to Peter Pan
Peter and Wendy
Peter and Wendy, published in 1911, is the novelisation by J. M. Barrie of his most famous play Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up...
, which is published in the US by Disney and by Walker Books in the UK. Pearson and Barry have produced two further prequels – Peter and the Shadow Thieves
Peter and the Shadow Thieves
Peter and the Shadow Thieves is a children's novel that was published by Hyperion Books, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, in 2006. Written by humorist Dave Barry and novelist Ridley Pearson, the book is a sequel to their book Peter and the Starcatchers, continuing the story of the orphan...
and Peter and the Secret of Rundoon
Peter and the Secret of Rundoon
Peter and the Secret of Rundoon is a children's novel that was published by Hyperion Books, a subsidiary of Disney, in 2007. Written by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, the book is an unauthorized prequel to the original Peter Pan, or the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up by J. M. Barrie, and tells the story...
– and have announced a fourth book called Peter and the Sword of Mercy. Never Land Books
Never Land Books
The Never Land Books or Never Land Adventures are a series of short chapter books set in Never Land, the home of Peter Pan. They are based on the situations and characters established in the novel Peter and the Starcatchers and its sequels. Like the novels, they are written by Pulitzer...
, a series of chapter book
Chapter book
A chapter book is a story book intended for intermediate readers, generally age 7-10. Unlike picture books for younger readers, a chapter book tells the story primarily through prose, rather than pictures. Unlike books for older readers, chapter books contain plentiful illustrations...
s related to the Peter Pan novels is in progress. Also for Disney, Pearson has written four novels set inside the Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom Park is one of four theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort located near Orlando, Florida. The first park built at the resort, Magic Kingdom opened Oct. 1, 1971. Designed and built by WED Enterprises, the park's layout and attractions are similar to Disneyland in Anaheim, California...
theme park in Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Named The Kingdom Keepers
The Kingdom Keepers
The Kingdom Keepers is a series of novels for young readers, written by Ridley Pearson and published by Disney Hyperion. The first novel, Disney After Dark, was published in 2006, and the second, Disney at Dawn, was released on August 26, 2008, and the third, Disney In Shadow was released on...
: Disney After Dark, The Kingdom Keepers: Disney at Dawn, The Kingdom Keepers: Disney in Shadow, and the latest one: The Kingdom Keepers: Power Play (2011). They feature Disney characters coming to life and Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
leaving clues for the secrets of the park.
He is also the author of The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer: My Life at Rose Red
The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer: My Life at Rose Red
The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer: My Life at Rose Red is a 2001 novel by Ridley Pearson focusing on the life of the fictional John and Ellen Rimbauer and the construction of their mansion, Rose Red, in the early 20th century. Built on an old Indian burial ground, Rose Red is considered haunted and...
—adapted as the film The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer
The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer (film)
The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer is a 2003 television miniseries prequel to the film Rose Red . Directed by Craig R. Baxley, the film stars Lisa Brenner as Ellen Rimbauer, Steven Brand as John Rimbauer, and Tsidii Le Loka as Sukeena.-Synopsis:...
(2003)—and three mysteries featuring Chris Klick, under the pseudonyms of Joyce Reardon, Ph.D., and Wendell McCall, respectively.
Personal life
Pearson was raised by his parents, Robert and Betsy Pearson, in Riverside, ConnecticutConnecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, along with his siblings, Bradbury and Wendy. He was educated at the Pomfret School
Pomfret School
Pomfret School is an independent coeducational boarding and day school in Pomfret, Connecticut, United States for grades 9 through 12 plus a post-graduate year. Pomfret School was founded in 1894, on the principles of intellectual rigor and the development of character...
, the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
, and Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
. He lived in Shanghai, China, for the summer of 2008 and until summer of 2009 but has now come back to the US. His residence is in Saint Louis, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, with his wife, Marcelle, and their two daughters Paige and Storey.
He also plays bass guitar and sings for the Rock Bottom Remainders
Rock Bottom Remainders
The Rock Bottom Remainders is a rock and roll band consisting of published writers, most of them both amateur musicians and popular English-language book, magazine, and newspaper authors. The band took its self-mocking name from the publishing term remaindered book, a work of which the unsold...
, a band of published authors.
- Undercurrents (1988)
- The Angel Maker (1993)
- No Witnesses (1994)
- Beyond Recognition (1997)
- The Pied Piper (1998)
- The First Victim (1999)
- Middle Of Nowhere (2000)
- The Art Of Deception (2002)
- The Body Of David Hayes (2004)
Chris Klick
as Wendell McCall- Dead Aim (1988)
- Aim For The Heart (1990)
- Concerto In Dead Flat (1999)
Walt Fleming
- Killer Weekend (2007)
- Killer View (2008)
- Killer Summer (2009)
- In Harm's Way (2010) crossover with Boldt/Matthews
The Kingdom Keepers
- Disney After DarkDisney After DarkThe Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark is the first book in The Kingdom Keepers series set inside the Walt Disney World Resort, written by Ridley Pearson and published by Disney Book Group. It is set inside the Magic Kingdom...
(2005) - New York: Disney Editions. Sunshine State Young Readers Award 2009, Grade 6-8 winner. - Disney at DawnDisney at DawnKingdom Keepers II: Disney at Dawn is the second book in The Kingdom Keepers series set inside the Walt Disney World Resort, written by Ridley Pearson and published by Disney Book Group. It is set inside Disney's Animal Kingdom...
(2008) - New York: Disney Editions - Disney In Shadow (2010) - New York: Disney Editions
- Power Play (2011) - New York: Disney Hyperion
- Shell Game (2012) - New York: Disney Hyperion
Peter Pan
- Peter and the StarcatchersPeter and the StarcatchersPeter and the Starcatchers is a best-selling children's novel that was published by Hyperion Books, a subsidiary of Disney, in 2004. Written by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, the book provides a backstory for the character Peter Pan, and serves as a prequel to J. M. Barrie's novel Peter and Wendy...
(with Dave BarryDave BarryDavid "Dave" Barry is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American author and columnist, who wrote a nationally syndicated humor column for The Miami Herald from 1983 to 2005. He has also written numerous books of humor and parody, as well as comedic novels.-Biography:Barry was born in Armonk, New York,...
) (2004) - New York: Disney Editions - Peter and the Shadow ThievesPeter and the Shadow ThievesPeter and the Shadow Thieves is a children's novel that was published by Hyperion Books, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, in 2006. Written by humorist Dave Barry and novelist Ridley Pearson, the book is a sequel to their book Peter and the Starcatchers, continuing the story of the orphan...
(with Dave Barry) (2006) - Peter and the Secret of RundoonPeter and the Secret of RundoonPeter and the Secret of Rundoon is a children's novel that was published by Hyperion Books, a subsidiary of Disney, in 2007. Written by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, the book is an unauthorized prequel to the original Peter Pan, or the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up by J. M. Barrie, and tells the story...
(with Dave Barry) (2007) - Peter and the Sword of MercyPeter and the Sword of MercyPeter and the Sword of Mercy is a children's novel that was published by Hyperion Books, a subsidiary of Disney, in 2009. Written by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, the book is an unauthorized prequel to the original Peter Pan, or the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up by J. M. Barrie, and tells the story of...
(with Dave Barry) (2009) - The Bridge to NeverlandThe Bridge to NeverlandThe Bridge to Neverland is a book by Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry. It follows Aidan and Sarah Cooper, the main characters in the story. It all starts when the two find an old document in a secret compartment in their father's desk. Strangely enough, the document seems familiar to Sarah. After much...
(with Dave Barry) (2011)
Never Land chapter books
- Escape From The Carnivale (with Dave Barry) (2006)
- Cave Of The Dark Wind (with Dave Barry) (2007)
- Blood Tide (with Dave Barry) (2008)
Steel Trapp
- Steel Trapp: The Challenge (2008) - New York: Disney Editions
- Steel Trapp: The Academy (2010)
Other
- Science FairScience Fair (novel)Science Fair is a children's novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. It is sometimes called Science Frog because of the large picture of a frog on the front cover....
(with Dave Barry) (2008) - New York: Disney Editions