James Patterson is the world’s bestselling author. Among his creations are Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Michael Bennett, and Maximum Ride. His #1 bestselling nonfiction includes Walk in My Combat Boots, Filthy Rich, and his autobiography, James Patterson by James Patterson. He has collaborated on novels with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, and has won an Edgar Award, nine Emmy Awards, and the National Humanities Medal. His latest novel, co-written with Brian Sitts, is Holmes, Marple & Poe and he recently talked about it with Daryl Maxwell for the LAPL Blog.
What was your inspiration for Holmes, Marple & Poe?
Let's just say I love the classics. And the idea came to me of what it would be like if the greatest crime-solving minds were working together. Today. In New York City.
How did you approach reimagining three such well-known archetypes of literature as Sherlock Holmes, Miss Marple, and Edgar Allen Poe?
I’m a long-time fan of Doyle, Christie and Poe’s writings. And it probably helps that I've read a few thousand detective novels over the years. And written a few, too.
How did the novel evolve and change as you wrote and revised it? Are there any characters or scenes that were lost in the process that you wish had made it to the published version?
No blooper reel on this one. That's one of the benefits of starting with a good outline, which I always do. I do recall, in the writing, layering in more references to the original authors and characters as I went along. I kept seeing interesting things to connect, and I tried to do that.
You've written more than 200 novels, on some of which you've partnered with people like President Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton. Your work has been adapted into both motion pictures and television series. Is there something you haven't done yet but are hoping to have the opportunity to try?
My tendency in any business—publishing, advertising, Hollywood—is to seriously question the rules. The rules in publishing were: You don't do TV ads, you don't cross genres, you don't put out two books in a year. And I said, "I'm not sure that's right." Whatever the genre or medium, my focus is telling stories that have the same visceral appeal: the pace and the action never stop.
Do you have a favorite of Arthur Conan Doyle’s original stories about Sherlock Holmes? A favorite of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple stories? A favorite work by Edgar Allen Poe?
It's impossible to pick just one. Last year, my publisher gave me a 1904 collectors' set of Poe's complete works, and I've been really enjoying the wide range of themes in his writing over the years. And stories featuring Dupin, of course.
Do you have an idea or theory regarding why/how these writers/characters continue to be so popular and continue to inspire writers and entertain readers?
For me, successful storytelling comes down to one simple thing: keeping the reader's attention. If it heightens the drama, pulls at your heart, or turns your expectations upside down—then it belongs in the book. These literary figures continue to keep audiences guessing while pulling at our hearts and playing with our emotions.
Holmes, Marple & Poe seems to be the beginning of a new series. If so, what are your plans for the series? Do you have an idea at this time how long the series will be and how many books will be necessary to tell the story you want to tell?
You could be a detective yourself! Yes, the characters in Holmes, Marple & Poe are all dynamic and fun to write—and there is a second book in the works. As for how long the series may be…so long as Holmes, Marple, and Poe have secrets to reveal, I'm happy to keep telling their story.
What's currently on your nightstand?
Led Zeppelin: The Biography by Bob Spitz.
Is there a book you would most want to read again for the first time?
One of my favorite reading experiences, and one that has influenced me most as a storyteller, was Evan Connell Jr.'s Mrs. Bridge, and its companion novel, Mr. Bridge. They tell the story of an ordinary middle-class family living in Kansas City but from two distinct perspectives—that of India Bridge, a wife and mother, and her curmudgeonly lawyer husband. The short chapters and concise writing were a new way of writing novels I hadn't encountered before, and it really began to inspire my voice as an author.
What is your idea of THE perfect day (where you could go anywhere/meet with anyone)?
My perfect day would have to be spending time at our home by the water with my family and a good book. My favorite things—family, water, and stories. Graeter's Ice Cream might be in there, too.
What are you working on now?
I’m most excited about the upcoming release of Eruption in 2024, written in collaboration with the incredible Michael Crichton. When Sherri Crichton, Michael's widow, first approached me with her husband's unfinished manuscript, I felt honored to be chosen to work alongside such a giant in the world of storytelling. And what we've come up with is truly an unforgettable thriller about a world-changing volcanic eruption that's all too possible. It's got all of Michael's great scientific knowledge and a good dose of action and suspense, too.
