Donald Jones

Donald Bain, born in Mineola, New York, was an American author and ghostwriter whose career spanned four decades, resulting in over 115 published books. He graduated from Purdue University in 1957, where he studied speech and drama and obtained his pilot's license through Air Force ROTC. Bain's extensive bibliography includes contributions to popular series such as 'Coffee, Tea or Me?' and 'Murder, She Wrote,' as well as numerous comedic novels, westerns under the pseudonym J.D. Hardin, and other fictional works. He also authored biographies and autobiographies, notably his own, 'Murder HE Wrote: A Successful Writer's Life.'

Beyond his credited works, Bain was known for his significant, often unacknowledged, ghostwriting contributions. He revealed in a 2014 column that he had written a substantial number of the mystery novels attributed to Margaret Truman, collaborating closely with her on the 'Capital Crimes' series. His career also involved ghostwriting for other authors and projects, including Veronica Lake's autobiography and guides on topics like bartending and aviation. Bain passed away in White Plains, New York, in 2017 at the age of 82 due to congestive heart failure.

Donald Bain was a highly prolific ghostwriter, a role that often required anonymity. His extensive work in this capacity included writing a significant portion of the mystery novels attributed to Margaret Truman, a fact he eventually disclosed. He also ghostwrote Veronica Lake's autobiography and contributed to various other projects under different bylines. His own name appeared on books such as 'The Case Against Private Aviation,' 'Long John Nebel,' and 'The Control of Candy Jones.' This aspect of his career highlights his versatility and ability to adapt to different voices and genres, often working behind the scenes to bring other individuals' stories or concepts to print.

Bain's career was marked by an extraordinary range of published works. He was a key contributor to the 'Coffee, Tea or Me?' series, offering insights into the lives of flight attendants. His involvement with the 'Murder, She Wrote' book series, based on the popular television drama, further cemented his presence in popular fiction. Additionally, he penned numerous comedic novels, westerns under the pseudonym J.D. Hardin, and a variety of other fictional narratives, demonstrating his command over different storytelling styles and subject matter. His bibliography also includes biographical works and his own autobiography, 'Murder HE Wrote: A Successful Writer's Life,' providing a look into his own experiences in the publishing world.