Courtesy of James Czajkowski

Czajkowski poses for televised interview about his book, The Bone Labyrinth. Czajkowski has written over 30 novels.

Intensely researching for 90 days straight, then immediately beginning to write for four hours a day, this man works until each book is done, then jumps into the next. Such is the life of best selling author and 1979 graduate James Czajkowski (pen name James Rollins).

“[In high school] I was quiet, an introvert, but I had a close circle of friends, who I’m still friends with today. I’ve always had a curiosity about so many subjects like history, science and creative writing, but the classes in high school helped me identify those subjects matters that truly fascinated me the most—and of course, those that did not,” Czajkowski said.

Czajkowski was a veterinarian with his own practice after graduating from college, but he was drawn to writing; he would write short stories on his lunch break or after work.

“I never doubted I’d be a veterinarian. But to become a New York Times bestselling author with 33 novels under my belt, that I did not expect. While I dabbled with writing in high school, I never figured it was a ‘real’ career,” Czajkowski said. “I thought you had to have some literary pedigree to be a real-world writer, the son of Hemingway or Fitzgerald.”

The transition was not always easy, however. Both he and his parents were unsure if writing would be a profitable and practical career.

“It was easy to let their skepticism creep into my own thoughts. And it didn’t help my ego when the rejection slips from editors and publishers started hitting my mailbox. But whenever I teach writing, I always tell new writers that one of the strongest traits needed is to develop a thick skin. There’s a lot of rejection in this business, and you have to trust yourself and your writing enough to persevere through it,” Czajkowski said.

Although he is now a full-time author, he still volunteers to spay and neuter animals at a Sacramento animal shelter.

“I knew I wanted to be a vet since I was in third grade. I’ve always loved medicine, animals and science. And though I’ve stopped practicing full-time, that passion still creeps into my writing,” Czajkowski said. “My characters often have animal sidekicks: an old German shepherd, an orphaned jaguar cub, a wolf-hybrid rescue dog.”

Despite such a massive career shift, some things never change.

“There’s an old adage I remember hearing: Whatever music you loved in high school, you’ll love the rest of your life. For me, that was Bruce Springsteen. But this adage also applies to so many other aspects of who you will become,” Czajkowski said. “I’m still the quiet introvert who loves books, science and animals. During my years at Parkway West, I discovered who I was, where my passions lay, and West gave me the foundations to pursue them. What better education could one ask for?”