Lee Child was born in the exact geographic centre of England, in the heart of the industrial badlands, where the air was thick with the smell of industry and the sounds of machinery hummed in the distance. Never having seen a tree until he was 12 years old, he was a city boy through and through, with a world of concrete and steel stretching out before him.
Growing up in this unforgiving environment, he learned early on how to defend himself, and the scars to prove it. Minor disputes were settled with box cutters and bicycle chains, and the local hospital was always filled with the sounds of broken bones and bruised egos.
Despite the rough surroundings, Lee managed to survive and thrive, earning a law degree and a spot at Granada Television in Manchester. Back then, Granada was a world-renowned production company, churning out hit shows like "Brideshead Revisited", "The Jewel in the Crown", and "Prime Suspect". Lee worked on the broadcast side, rubbing shoulders with industry legends like Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud, and Natalie Wood.
Though his role was limited, he learned a thing or two about storytelling, and went on to write thousands of links, trailers, commercials, and news stories, often on incredibly tight deadlines. He was a veteran of the company, with 18 years of service under his belt, but in the 1990s, the company began to downsize, and Lee found himself on the chopping block.
Fired in 1995, Lee was left to pick up the pieces, and it was then that he turned to writing, driven by a desire to tell a story that would resonate with his audience. He had an idea for a character who had suffered a similar fate, but was taking it in stride, and he named him Jack Reacher.
With a deadline looming, Lee wrote "Killing Floor" as fast as he could, and was thrilled when it became an instant hit, selling strongly around the world and winning several awards. The book led to a series of Reacher novels, which have since become a staple of the literary world.
In 1998, Lee made the move to the United States, settling just outside New York City with his American wife, Jane, and their grown-up daughter, Ruth. He spends his free time reading, listening to music, and cheering on the New York Yankees, and is always on the lookout for his next adventure, whether it's on the page or in real life.
