Christopher Pike is the pseudonym of Kevin McFadden. He is a bestselling author known for his young adult and children's fiction, specializing in the thriller genre. Born in New York, he grew up in California, where he continues to reside. A college drop-out, McFadden worked in various jobs, including factory work, house painting, and computer programming, before gaining recognition as an author. Initially, he struggled to find success in writing science fiction and adult mystery. However, his career took a significant turn when an editor advised him to write a teen thriller. This led to the creation of his first popular book, Slumber Party (1985), which revolves around a group of teenagers encountering strange and mysterious events.