Justin Cronin – American novelist, best known for The Passage trilogy, as well as Mary and O’Neil and The Twelve. Born in New England, he studied at Harvard and taught creative writing at the University of Houston. His work blends epic scope with intimate humanity, turning apocalyptic backdrops into stories of hope and survival.
✨ His debut Mary and O’Neil won the PEN/Hemingway Award. 📚 The Passage began when his daughter asked: “Write about a girl who saves the world.” 🎬 The trilogy was adapted into a Fox TV series. 🎓 Spent years mentoring young writers at university. 🖋️ Believes even the darkest stories must carry a spark of hope. 🌍 His novels are international bestsellers, translated into many languages. 🎵 Draws inspiration from music, especially jazz and classical. 📖 Cites Dostoevsky and Tolstoy as strong influences. 🌆 Lives in Texas but says New England is always present in his imagination. 🙃 Quirk: once an editor made him rephrase after he called his book “a vampire novel.” 😄 Amusing: admits he sometimes frightens students with overly dramatic readings.