James Paul Czajkowski, better known by the pen name James Rollins, transitioned from a high-pressure career as a veterinarian in Sacramento to becoming a full-time author of action-adventure and techno-thriller novels. Drawing from his personal expertise in scuba diving and spelunking, he embeds his narratives in complex underground and underwater environments, creating plots centered on scientific discovery and historical mystery.
Professional Background
Born in Chicago in 1961, Czajkowski attended Parkway West High School in Ballwin, Missouri, graduating in 1979. He pursued academic interests in evolutionary biology, eventually earning a doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Missouri in 1985. Following his graduation, he relocated to California and established a veterinary practice. For two decades, he operated his clinic while writing fiction during lunch hours, a habit he maintained while managing 24 employees and working shifts reaching 18 hours daily.
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Rollins credits early exposure to 1930s and 1940s pulp magazines, particularly the Doc Savage series, as primary influences on his writing style. His interests extended to the works of Jules Verne, H. G. Wells, L. Frank Baum, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and C. S. Lewis. Additionally, the real-world archaeological achievements of Howard Carter, specifically the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, served as a template for his novel Excavation, which explores themes of ancient curses and hidden civilizations.
Publishing Career
His entry into professional publishing began after he entered a manuscript in a writing contest at the Maui Writers' Conference in Hawaii. This led to the 1999 publication of his first novel, Wit'ch Fire, released under the pseudonym James Clemens. Throughout his career, he has employed this name for fantasy works, including titles such as Shadowfall and Hinterland. His action-adventure bibliography includes Subterranean, Deep Fathom, Amazonia, and Ice Hunt, often incorporating his signature elements of magic, mayhem, and monsters.
Fast facts
- Born: 1961, Chicago
- Education: University of Missouri, D.V.M.
- Pseudonym: James Clemens
- Primary Genres: Thriller, Techno-thriller, Fantasy
- Former Occupation: Veterinarian
- Interests: Scuba diving, Spelunking
Questions readers ask
Why did James Rollins stop practicing veterinary medicine?
He chose to transition to full-time writing after 20 years because he wanted to flip the priority of his career, as he found veterinary medicine to be an extremely demanding, long-hour profession.
Does James Rollins write under any other names?
Yes, he publishes his fantasy novels under the pen name James Clemens.
Achievements
- Genres: adventure, thriller film and adventure fiction
