John R. Maxim is an acclaimed American author, renowned for his spy fiction, mystery, and thriller novels. He is best known for his Bannerman series. Maxim hails from a family with a law enforcement background. After his schooling, he joined the military but chose to pursue a career in marketing and advertising instead. After many successful years in this field, Maxim decided to try his hand at writing, giving himself a year to succeed. His debut novel, "Platform," was published when he was 41 years old.
Maxim's own life experiences have significantly influenced his writing style. His novels often feature average people who become unwittingly involved in extraordinary events, allowing them to break free from their mundane routines. This is perhaps reflective of Maxim's own decision to leave his successful career in marketing and advertising to become a writer. "Platform," his first novel, is a prime example of this style. It tells the story of Peter Halloran, a suburban commuter who leads an unfulfilling life. However, his life takes a dramatic turn when he starts seeing a dead man on his train platform, leading him to uncover the violent secrets of his quiet Connecticut town. The novel received critical acclaim and set the tone for Maxim's subsequent works.
Maxim was born in Greenwich Village, NYC, and received his education at NY Jesuit Schools, Xavier and Fordham. He was involved in various sports and hobbies, including flying, skydiving, dirt-track stock car racing, and sailing. His family background is in law enforcement, with several relatives being cops and a few working as Feds. After leaving the military, Maxim ventured into marketing and advertising, where he rose to the position of Senior VP in major New York advertising agencies. His work involved extensive international travel. Maxim's passion for writing, however, led him to try his hand at novel writing. He sold his first novel at the age of 41 and went on to write 12 more, plus one non-fiction work. His novels have been translated into ten languages and several have been optioned for film or TV. Maxim and his wife, Christine, a champion sailor, currently reside in Hilton Head, South Carolina.