Thomas L. Clancy, Jr. has been one of the most prolific
writers of our century. He had been hard at work ever since the
publication of his first novel, The Hunt for Red October, in 1984.
Since that time he has published eighteen works of fiction,
seven of which have been best sellers. These works begin with
the Jack Ryan series that started with The Hunt for Red October
and continued with Red Storm Rising, Patriot Games, The Cardinal
of the Kremlin, Clear and Present Danger, The Sum of all Fears,
Without Remorse, Debt of Honor, Executive Orders, and Rainbow Six.
His list of works of fiction also includes the Op Center series:
Mirror Image, Games of State, Acts of War, and Balance of Power,
as well as, Net Force: One is The Loneliest Number, Net Force:
The Deadliest Game, Politica, and Ruthless.com. Clancy has also
written many works of nonfiction such as Submarine, Armored Cav.,
Fighter Wing, Marine, Airborne, Into the Storm, and Carrier.
Three of Clancy's works of fiction, The Hunt for Red October,
Patriot Games, and Clear and Present Danger have been made into
movies, and his Op Center novels have been condensed into a
television mini series. All of his works, both fiction and non-
fiction have been widely read, and this great success and fame
has drastically changed his personal life.
Thomas L. Clancy was born on April 12, 1947 at Franklin
Square Hospital in Baltimore, Md. Clancy grew up in the area
surrounding Baltimore. He attended eight years of Jesuit schools
starting at Loyola High School in Townson,
Maryland. He graduated in 1965 and went on to Loyola College in
Baltimore from which he graduated with a B.A. in English
Literature in 1969. After graduation Clancy became an insurance
broker, and he eventually purchased and operated his own
independent insurance business. However, his love of the
military, especially the navy, prevented him from being satisfied
with the insurance business, and so he turned to writing.
Tom Clancy's first novel, The Hunt for Red October, was
published when he was thirty-seven years old. It was praised by
President Reagan, and it quickly became a best seller which lead
to the writings of his subsequent novels. This success allowed
him to leave the insurance business and concentrate on his
carreer as a writer and created more time to focus his attention
on other subjects of interest, such as spending more time with
his family, collecting art, politics, nature, and sports.
Clancy recently became a partial owner of the Baltimore
Orioles and sole owner of the Minnesota Vikings. He also has
recently bought his own railroad car and tank. He spends much of
his free time with his wife Wanda and their four children
(names of kids not released), and the entire family makes many
outings to sporting events in support of their two teams. They
also all enjoy spending a lot of time in nature on hikes, climbs,
and other trips. Clancy has become active in politics by having
meetings with both Reagan and Bush during their respective
administrations, and he gives lectures to members of the C.I.A.
He has become a trusted friend to many people within the
intelligence community and is considered an associate member of the
C.I.A. Clancy enjoys being involved in politic,however, he
claims to have no desire to run for political office himself.
Another of Clancy's hobbies involves computers. In November of
1996 he cofounded the computer game company Redstorm
Entertainment, and he is presently chairman. This company has recently manufactured such games
as Politika and Rainbow Six.
The success of Clancy's novels has enabled him to become
involved in many aspects of life that may not have been
accessible to him had he remained in the insurance business.
Clancy promises his reader to try and consistently create
interesting and challenging novels, and many believe that more
bestsellers are in his future. Clancy currently lives in Prince
Frederick, Maryland with his wife Wanda.