C. D. Payne (born C. Douglas Payne; July 5, 1949) is an American writer of absurdist fiction who is best known for his series of novels about fictional teenager Nick Twisp. They are called the "Youth in Revolt" series or "The Journals of Nick Twisp."
In the novels the protagonist, Nick, strives to balance out his budding sexual urges while remaining an intellectual teenager in a world of moronic adults.
Along with the "Youth" series he is the author of several other novels including Frisco Pigeon Mambo and Civic Beauties, a parody of politics in the United States, which follows the lives of teenage twin girls whose father is campaigning to be vice president. He has also published a play titled, Queen of America: A Royal Comedy in Three Acts. Frisco Pigeon Mambo was bought by Fox Animation, but was never made into a film.
Youth in Revolt was developed and distributed by Dimension Films in January 2010.
Personal life
Payne was born in Akron, Ohio, in 1949, and graduated from Harvard College in 1971. He then moved to California and lived in a trailer in Santa Monica.
Payne is an avid collector of campers, mobile homes, and trailers. His most prized possession is a 1964 Airstream trailer.
Other books
- Civic Beauties: A Musical Novel (Aivia Press, 1999: )
- Frisco Pigeon Mambo (Aivia Press, 2000: )
- Invisibly Yours (CreateSpace, 2010: )
- Helen and Brenda (Aivia Press, 2014: )
- Cheeky Swimsuits of 1957 (Aivia Press, 2014: )
- Miracle in a Can (Aivia Press, 2016: )
- The Unpleasant Poet (Aivia Press, 2017: )
- Cary and Randy: A Play in Two Acts (Aivia Press, 2017: )
- Gambling on Divorce (Aivia Press, 2023: )
- Midcentury Mischief: 7 Comic Tales (Aivia Press, 2024: )
- The Vagabond and the All-Girl Band (Aivia Press, 2024: )
- The Handsomest Man in the World (Aivia Press, 2025: )
Plays
- Queen of America: A Royal Comedy in Three Acts (Aivia Press, 2001: )
:The inaugural performance was by the City Lights Theater Company in San Jose, CA.
Television and film
- Episode #2A of Disney's Recess; titled "Mama's Girl" (3rd episode of the second season). Aired on September 19, 1998. Teleplay was based on a story that C. D. Payne wrote for the show.
- Frisco Pigeon Mambo. The film rights to this novel are currently owned by the now defunct Fox Animation Studios. It is unknown what the status is or plans are with these rights.
- Youth in Revolt was released January 8, 2010.