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.

A native of New York, McFadden grew up in California, where he resides to this day. Despite being a college drop-out, he engaged in various jobs such as factory work, house painting, and computer programming before establishing himself as a recognized author.

Initially, his attempts to write science fiction and adult mystery did not meet with success. However, his career took a turn when an editor suggested he write a teen thriller, leading to the creation of Slumber Party (1985), a novel about teenagers encountering bizarre events, which marked his breakthrough in the literary world.