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Who Is Jd Barker? What Did Jd Barker Do?

J.D. Barker, the 53-year-old American suspense author, gained fame with "Forsaken." Formerly a celebrity interviewer, he faced controversy over a BookTok promotion, resulting in agent separation. Explore his unique journey in literature.

by Jayasree D

Updated Jan 31, 2024

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Who Is Jd Barker? What Did Jd Barker Do?
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Who is Jd Barker? 

J.D. Barker is a popular American author known for writing suspenseful and thrilling books. He was born as Jonathan Dylan Barker and is currently 53 years old. J.D. gained recognition with his first book, "Forsaken," in 2012, which became a big success. The novel was nominated for an award and became a best-seller in various countries.

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Before becoming a successful author, J.D. Barker had a different career. He studied business at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. Initially, he worked as a celebrity interviewer for magazines like Seventeen and TeenBeat. Later on, he became a book doctor and ghostwriter, helping other writers improve their works.

Recently, J.D. Barker faced controversy when an email from his literary public relations firm asked members of the BookTok community to create provocative videos to promote his upcoming book, "Behind A Closed Door." This sparked criticism and backlash, leading to his agent dropping him as a client. Despite J.D.'s apology and clarification, the incident caused significant repercussions in his career.

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Full Name

Jonathan Dylan Barker

Date of Birth

January 7, 1971

Age

53 

Birthplace

Lombard, Illinois

Current Residence

Englewood, Florida, and New Castle, New Hampshire

Education

Business degree from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale

What Did Jd Barker Do?

J.D. Barker, a famous writer, got into trouble recently because of a strange email sent to a group of readers on TikTok called BookTok. This email, sent by his literary public relations firm, Best of BookTok, asked BookTok members to make videos with explicit content to promote his upcoming book, "Behind A Closed Door," an erotic thriller. This made a lot of people upset and uncomfortable.

Even though J.D. Barker confirmed that he owns the firm, he explained that the promotional campaign was not approved, and the email wasn't supposed to be sent as it was. He took full responsibility for the situation. Some members of BookTok, like Sian Harper and Marissa Bologna, received the email and felt uneasy about the request.

After facing criticism, J.D. Barker clarified on social media that the campaign was a mistake and expressed his horror that the message got released. Another email was sent to BookTok members, stating that the initial email was sent by a PR firm hired by Barker, not directly by him. Despite this, he faced backlash for offering money to influencers and creators for inappropriately suggestive promotional videos.

In response to the controversy, J.D. Barker apologized, expressing deep regret for any hurt caused. He admitted his mistakes, emphasized his respect for the writing community, and took full responsibility. As a consequence, his agent dropped him as a client, and he pledged to do better in the future.

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Jd Barker Age

J.D. Barker was born on January 7, 1971, making him 53 years old. Born in Lombard, Illinois, he later spent his early years in Crystal Lake before his family relocated to Englewood, Florida, at the age of fourteen. After completing his high school education at Lemon Bay High School in 1989, Barker pursued further studies at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale.

As of the present date, January 31, 2024, J.D. Barker's age remains 53, in line with his birthdate in 1971. Throughout his life, he has become a notable figure in the literary world, gaining recognition for his contributions to the suspense, thriller, and horror genres. With his website, www.jdbarker.com, readers and fans can access information about his books, events, and other aspects of his career.

Despite the controversy and challenges he faced in his career, including the recent book reviewer controversy in January 2024, J.D. Barker continues to be an active and influential novelist. His age reflects the wealth of experience and creativity he brings to his writing, and it will be interesting to see how his career evolves in the future.

Jd Barker Early Life

J.D. Barker had an interesting early life that shaped his journey as a novelist. Originally from Lombard, Illinois, he spent his first fourteen years in Crystal Lake before his family decided to move to Englewood, Florida. This shift occurred when he was a teenager, and it marked a significant change in his surroundings and experiences.

During his high school years, J.D. Barker attended Lemon Bay High School, graduating in 1989. Following his graduation, he enrolled at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, where he pursued a degree in business.

It was during his time in college that Barker's talent for writing became apparent. A writing assignment of his found its way to Paul Gallotta of Circus magazine, leading to an invitation to join the staff of 25th Parallel, where he worked alongside individuals who would later become notable figures, including Marilyn Manson.

Barker's early exposure to pop culture and his work in various publications, including Seventeen and TeenBeat, laid the foundation for his later career. Also, his college years marked the beginning of his exploration into the world of writing, eventually leading him to become a successful novelist known for his suspense thrillers. Throughout his early life, J.D. Barker's experiences and influences played a crucial role in shaping the writer he would become.

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Jd Barker Career

J.D. Barker's career as a novelist has been marked by success and recognition. Born on January 7, 1971, Barker ventured into writing after his college writing assignment caught the attention of Paul Gallotta from Circus magazine.

This led to his involvement with 25th Parallel, where he worked alongside figures like Marilyn Manson. His early career included celebrity interviews for publications like Seventeen and TeenBeat, and he syndicated a column called "Revealed," focusing on haunted places and supernatural occurrences.

Barker's literary journey took a significant turn with the publication of his debut novel, "Forsaken," in 2014, which earned him a Bram Stoker Award nomination. Stephen King read portions of the book before publication and granted permission for Barker to use a character from his own work. The indie success of "Forsaken" paved the way for traditional publishers, leading to the release of his debut thriller, "The Fourth Monkey," in 2017.

Collaborating with James Patterson, Barker produced successful novels like "The Coast-to-Coast Murders" and "The Noise." However, his career faced controversy in 2024 when book reviewers received emails offering payment to pose nude with his book. Despite challenges, Barker's impact on the literary world continues, with his website, www.jdbarker.com, serving as a hub for his works and events.

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Disclaimer: The above information is for general informational purposes only. All information on the Site is provided in good faith, however we make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability or completeness of any information on the Site.

Who Is Jd Barker-FAQs

1. Who is J.D. Barker?

J.D. Barker, born Jonathan Dylan Barker, is a distinguished 53-year-old American author celebrated for his compelling and thrilling novels, with notable success in his bestselling work "Forsaken," published in 2012.

2. What is J.D. Barker's early life like?

J.D. Barker's formative years unfolded in Lombard, Illinois, transitioning through Crystal Lake and settling in Englewood, Florida, at the age of fourteen. Graduating from Lemon Bay High School in 1989, he furthered his education with a business degree at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale.

3. How did J.D. Barker commence his career?

Prior to his illustrious writing career, J.D. Barker engaged in celebrity interviews for esteemed magazines such as Seventeen and TeenBeat. Subsequently, he evolved into a book doctor and ghostwriter, aiding fellow authors in refining and perfecting their literary works.

4. What recent noteworthy incident did J.D. Barker face?

Recently, J.D. Barker found himself embroiled in a noteworthy incident when an email from his literary PR firm, Best of BookTok, encouraged BookTok members to create explicit videos for the promotion of his upcoming book, "Behind A Closed Door." This occurrence triggered substantial critique and resulted in his agent severing ties.

5. How did J.D. Barker respond to the significant event?

In light of the impactful incident, J.D. Barker took full accountability for the unconventional email, offering clarification that it had not received approval. He expressed profound regret and, despite the aftermath, issued a sincere apology, underscoring his unwavering respect for the writing community while committing to glean lessons from the situation.

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