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Douglas Preston, born May 31, 1956, is an American journalist and author. He is widely recognized for his collaborative thriller novels with Lincoln Child, which include the popular Agent Pendergast and Gideon Crew series. Beyond his joint work, Preston has authored several solo novels, such as the Wyman Ford series, and a novel that was adapted into a Disney film. His writing also extends to nonfiction, with a focus on science and exploration, and he is a contributing writer for publications like The New Yorker and Smithsonian.

Preston's career began at the American Museum of Natural History, where he worked in publications and wrote a history of the institution. His subsequent move to New Mexico marked a shift to full-time writing, leading to books like 'Cities of Gold,' inspired by retracing historical journeys. He has a history of participating in adventurous expeditions, including journeys into remote Cambodian jungles, ancient Egyptian tombs, and the discovery of a lost city in Honduras, experiences that have informed his nonfiction work. He has also taught nonfiction writing and been active in literary organizations.

Richard Preston is perhaps best known for his extensive collaboration with Lincoln Child. Together, they created the enduring character of FBI Special Agent Pendergast, who features in numerous bestselling thrillers like 'Relic,' 'The Cabinet of Curiosities,' and 'Brimstone.' Their joint bibliography also includes the Gideon Crew series. In his solo fiction career, Preston has penned novels such as 'Jennie,' a story about a chimpanzee, and 'The Codex,' a treasure hunt thriller. He later developed the Wyman Ford character, an ex-CIA agent, who became the protagonist in several of his independent novels, including 'Tyrannosaur Canyon' and 'The Kraken Project.'

Preston's nonfiction work often delves into science, exploration, and historical mysteries. He has written extensively about his experiences on expeditions, such as retracing Francisco Vásquez de Coronado's journey across the American Southwest, leading to 'Cities of Gold.' He was part of an expedition that discovered a lost city in Honduras, chronicled in the bestseller 'The Lost City of the Monkey God.' Preston also investigated the "Monster of Florence" serial killings, co-authoring the book 'The Monster of Florence' with Mario Spezi, which became a New York Times bestseller. His critical examination of the Amanda Knox trial resulted in the eBook 'Trial By Fury.'

Beyond his writing, Preston has been involved in advocating for authors. In 2014, he initiated Authors United, a movement that publicly addressed contract disputes between publishers and online retailers, aiming to protect authors' interests. He has also been recognized for his adventurous spirit and participation in challenging expeditions. These include entering an ancient Egyptian burial chamber and exploring remote regions in Cambodia and Honduras. His involvement in these explorations has earned him recognition, including induction into the Long Riders' Guild, and has significantly shaped his nonfiction writing.

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“This is about Amazon's bullying tactics against authors. Every time they run into difficulty negotiating with a publisher, they target authors' books for selective retaliation. The authors who were first were from university presses and small presses... Amazon is going to be negotiating with publishers forever. Are they really going to target authors every time they run into a problem with a publisher?”