Two weeks ago I received a really interesting note from MJ, concerning James Patterson. While we know that Patterson doesn’t write Cozy Mystery books, he does write mysteries. And boy, does he write!
I don’t know if you ever watch Charlie Rose (PBS), but last night he interviewed James Patterson during the second half of the program. I was VERY surprised (even shocked) when Patterson acknowledged how he writes so many books. In fact, as C. Rose points out, he’s written (??) numerous books since last fall. He writes an outline, then invites other writers to fill in the story. No book gets released unless he likes the end product. He’s sold 295 million books!
If interested, here is the link. Scan through to 39.52 (which is the start of the Patterson interview).(Unfortunately, that link is no longer available.)
First of all, thank you, MJ, for solving a mystery of my own! I don’t remember the exact year in which I was asked to include James Patterson on the Cozy Mystery site, but since I started his page, I have found myself updating his book lists quite frequently. Actually, sometimes I have found myself adding a new James Patterson mystery to a month’s New Release page, and stopping to make sure I’m correct, since I thought I had just added a new James Patterson release the previous month.
MJ, thank you for sending me this very interesting interview. I truly had wondered how James Patterson was able to write so many best selling mysteries. This answers that question.
P.S. I think it’s terrific that James Patterson gives credit to the other authors, rather than use “ghost writers” who never get any of the glory.
Cathy L. says
Danna, I agree with you about JP acknowledging his writers and not using “ghost writers”. I have read all but the YA books by him and for the most part enjoyed them. I just finished reading Private LA, it was an OK book but I didn’t like how the ending was pretty predictable early on. The story lines surrounding the members of Private kept me reading. This morning I’m on to a book by David Ellis, Breach of Truth. Wishing everyone a Happy Spring and good reading.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Cathy L, I remember several years ago when there was a lot of speculation on the internet about one very popular author who was still writing best sellers well into her 90s. People were tossing around accusations that her last few books hadn’t been up to par, therefore they were ghostwritten. They didn’t seem to be taking into account that she very well could have written them, but that being “well into her 90s” might have changed her style of writing a little bit. I’m all for ghostwriters, as long as the big-name author acknowledges them and contributes a lot in all of the processes, not just getting a publisher.
Ann says
He has been honest about his “writing” and at least the story is his (outline). Many authors such as Janet Evanovich and Clive Cussler simply give a cursory glance at books written by others and add their names to the cover. It’s very misleading. I no longer read books where there is and/with on the cover.
Ann
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ann, I don’t know about the other two authors you name, but I think it’s absolutely terrific that James Patterson gives full credit to the other authors. From his interview, it looks like he is not willing to put his name on anything he hasn’t given a lot of time to, both in coming up with a very substantial outline and in the editing process >>> since the books are a representation of his brand. An 80 to 90 page outline is pretty much the entire book without “fleshing out” the ambiance and dialog. (As a matter of fact, I prefer it when my mystery books are a little closer to the length of his outlines, well let’s say around 200 pages. I am really put off by a mystery with close to 350 pages. I don’t feel I’m getting a lot for my money, I figure I’m getting a lot of superfluous “stuffing”.)
Jackie J. Griffey says
All this was very informing and not surprising. I have read a lot of his books, my daughter too. But we have not read them all nor have we liked all we read. (It does still get our attention to see his name when browsing for the current list of what’s coming our NOW.)
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Jackie, it’s no nice that both you and your daughter enjoy the same authors.
Marja says
I hope the co-authors also get a healthy share of the profits! He’s a very popular “brand.”
Makes me sad, though, when I go to the library and see 10 copies each of former best-sellers up on the high shelves (with a couple in the regular-use section), unneeded now because they all got read. James Patterson, David Baldacci, Jackie Collins and Danielle Steel spring to mind ….
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marja, I’m guessing they get a healthy share of the profits, otherwise they would probably not be inclined to want to do this.
Linda C says
My DH enjoys just about all the James Patterson books but I just don’t care for the Alex Cross books. Sometimes characters such as Alex Cross and others similar to Stuart Woods’ Stone Barrington just come across to me as being too unbelievable. Since I don’t read the Alex Cross books anymore I don’t know if that character is like Stone Barrington or not. But Stone just seems to keep getting richer and richer. Also, he has a different bed partner in every book, sometimes more than one. A lot of these women seem to end up dead or she is the bad guy.
I do enjoy JP’s Ladies detective books. But just not some of the others.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Linda C, I started reading the Women’s Murder Club when it first came out, but for some reason, after I saw the television show, I never went back.