Jay Bonansinga is a successful suspense and horror novelist, best known for his New York Times bestselling series of novels in "The Walking Dead" universe. He has made a significant impact in the thriller genre, with the Chicago Tribune praising him as one of the most imaginative authors. With more than fourteen novels under his belt, Bonansinga's work has been translated into over sixteen languages and has earned critical acclaim from various sources.
Before becoming a novelist, Bonansinga earned a master's degree in film from Columbia College Chicago and has since then ventured into screenwriting and film directing. He has worked with notable figures in Hollywood, such as Giancarlo Esposito, Dennis Haysbert, and George Romero, and has won top honors for his directorial debut of "STASH" at independent film festivals. Additionally, his screenplays have been optioned and are currently in development for film.
Bonansinga has also made a name for himself in historical fiction, with his novel "The Sinking of the Eastland" being adapted into a hit musical. Apart from his work in "The Walking Dead" universe, he has created several popular videogames based on the series. He currently lives with his photographer wife, Jill Norton, and their two children.
As a bestselling author, Bonansinga has written ten acclaimed books, both fiction and non-fiction, and has been recognized as "one of the most imaginative writers of thrillers" by the Chicago Tribune. He holds a master's degree in film from Columbia College Chicago and currently resides in Evanston, Illinois, with his wife and two sons. Bonansinga is also a visiting professor at Northwestern University's Creative Writing for the Media program.
Bonansinga's work extends beyond novels and film, having written over fifty acclaimed short stories and fifteen original novels, including "The Black Mariah" and "Shattered." His non-fiction works, such as "The Sinking of the Eastland" and books on Alan Pinkerton and the Las Vegas mob, have also received critical acclaim.
As a screenwriter and film director, Bonansinga has won Best-Of-Festival awards at several international film festivals, and his work has been shown on major cable systems in over fifty million homes. He also teaches creative writing at Northwestern University's School of Radio, Television & Film and the University of Cincinnati's Digital Media Department. Bonansinga is a popular speaker on creativity and storytelling and continues to work on his next novel.