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Ask the Author: J.D. Barker

“Best of luck to you! BTW - if you still haven't found the lost chapter, we've added it to the paperback release of THE FOURTH MONKEY due out in May :)” J.D. Barker

Answered Questions (110)

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Will 4MK be a series on Netflix or the like, or movies?
J.D. Barker Streaming series. More info on that can be found here:

https://deadline.com/2023/04/behind-a...
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Are you working on a new book? Here’s hoping as I am missing my regular JD Barker reading opportunity. Love all you books but 4MK series is my favourite.
J.D. Barker Yep. More info on the new one can be found here:

https://deadline.com/2023/04/behind-a...
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I just finished reading the last book in the 4MK trilogy and I have to say I'm very impressed with the way you used real locations and buildings in Chicago, especially since I'm born and raised here. Will you do any other books in the Chicago area?
J.D. Barker Maybe.

I was told the above answer is too short so I'm stating it again for emphasis -

Maybe.
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So the 4th Monkey was sold for movie/tv in April 2017 - what happened? What about the 5th to Die?
J.D. Barker Covid slowed things down but all three books in the series are with a studio and moving forward.
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Hi Barker! My name is Miguel, I'm a big fan and I'm from Spain, I would like to know if all your books are going to be translated to Spanish sooner or later? basically because my English is not good enough to read your books without any problem in English. Thank you very much
J.D. Barker Yes, I have a Spanish publisher. If the book you're looking for isn't in Spanish yet, I'm sure it will be shortly. Thanks!
jd
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Are you going to do any more books with James Patterson or other authors?
J.D. Barker Absolutely! Working with others takes me in creative directions I might not travel on my own. I also find it helps me recharge my batteries.
jd
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Obviously, you write great books on your own. Why write with another, albeit well-known, author? Is it just to sell more books? Genuinely perplexed by this, as his name is co-author on so many books. In the two I've read by two authors, I just try to figure who wrote which part (except for Swedish couple Lars Kepler).
J.D. Barker For me, it's about learning. Any time I get the opportunity to pick the brain of someone who can teach me something new, I'm all over it. I'm always striving to improve my craft and I've got the best of the best teaching me their tricks. The next time I sit down to write a new book on my own, it will be better for it.

I'm blessed that so many people love my writing but I didn't get there overnight. I spent 20+ years working with others - determining what worked for them and what didn't, then incorporating that into my own work. Without all that, none of my books would be what they are today.
jd
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JD I'd like to invite you to be a guest on the JIMMASTERSLIVE Virtual TV show. It's on every night and you'd be amazing to have on. You can find all the episodes on JimMastersTVLive on YOUTUBE. Let me know. We're on 7 days a week at 7. Callers Game was awesome. What do you think?
J.D. Barker My appearances are booked by a third-party company. Please visit the following link for more info:

https://jdbarker.com/upcoming-appeara...
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I am a manager at Dog-Eared Books in Ames, IA. We opened March 8th. In March, I sold 7 copies of The Fourth Monkey. Thus far in April, I have sold 20. The staff is having a great time ringing a bell four times every time we sell a copy! (We are easily entertained). Bell rings 5x for the Fifth to Die, etc. A town in the middle of the midwest is having a great time because you. :) Thoughts?
J.D. Barker Who doesn't like ringing a bell? That's awesome. Maybe it's time to visit Ames, IA. I'm overdue for a road trip and the looming apocalypse seems to be coming to an end :)

Please thank your staff for me. I think books have been an escape for many of us throughout all this and without people like you willing to go in and work, things would have been a far worse.

Best,
jd
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Sr. Barker. He visto que hay una edición de Drácula donde hay una introducción suya. Va llegar a España.? Me leído La trilogía del cuarto mono y Drácula el origen. He empezado con los crímenes de la carretera. Y la verdad es que no he leído nada igual. Me encantaría leer esa versión de Drácula en la que hay una introducción suya. Gracias.
J.D. Barker Thank you for the kind words! I wrote the official prequel to DRACULA titled DRACUL with Bram Stoker's great grandnephew, Dacre Stoker. I also have a special edition of DRACULA where I wrote the introduction and added some bonus material.

Links to all my books in English can be found here:
https://jdbarker.com/books/

For Spanish, you'll need to check with your local bookstore.

Best,
jd
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I see your next book is the the noise I can not wait look forward to new books from you not 1 I haven’t enjoyed yet I have to put a question mark to leave comment so here lol ?
J.D. Barker Thanks for the kind words!
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Mr. Baker...I have thoroughly enjoyed your "Monkey" series and would love to know you have another coming soon? The trilogy was one of the best I have ever read....and I am an avid reader of thriller/suspense/mysteries. My name is real, it is not a handle. I truly am a "page turner" who gobbles up books like yours, but only loves books like yours.
J.D. Barker That is a great name! Thanks for the kind words. My latest is called A CALLER'S GAME and released in February. My next book is called THE NOISE with James Patterson (out in August.)

Best,
jd
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I am 53 years old and an avid reader. So many authors I've enjoyed in the past have disappointed me in one way or another. You have not! You are undeniably my favorite author. I've read all your books and am anxiously awaiting more! What's next?
J.D. Barker Thanks for the kind words!

Next up is THE NOISE with James Patterson - it releases in August:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

This one will scare the bejesus out of you!

jd
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How do you decide what cities to use in your books? Coast to Coast had a town that you wouldn't know of unless you are from the area (like myself) and it was shocking to hear the name. Did you or Patterson pick Ashtabula for Nikki's house?
J.D. Barker Come on now, everyone's heard of Ashtabula :)
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Holy cow. How is it possible that I haven't run across your work until now? Reading "She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be" Creepy and quirky funny is an excellent combination!
J.D. Barker Thanks for the kind words!
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I am your fan in Japan. 4MK THRILLERS was the funniest thing I've ever seen! It was so interesting that I found your site and wanted to thank you for it. Who is your favorite character? I hope that your new work will be translated in Japan soon. I will send a request to the publisher. I'm looking forward to your continued success.
J.D. Barker I think characters are like children, you don't necessarily have a favorite and if you do, you don't want to say it out loud for fear of how the others might react. I'm hoping to visit Japan once this pandemic is behind us. Stay safe!
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If you ever want to take a road trip to Ames, IA, we would love to see you at Dog-Eared Books. We are an independent bookstore opening on March 2021. I'v been a HUGE fan ever since stumbling on to The Fourth Monkey. I am insisting our store owners carry your books, and I will be doing whatever I can to introduce the rest of the world to your talented work. Thanks for being awesome. Should we book your hotel?
J.D. Barker I think I'll sit out the rest of the apocalypse in the comfort of my home, thank you though. Once this is over, feel free to reach out to Authors Unbound:
booked@authorsunbound.com - they handle all my speaking gigs. Stay safe!
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I just picked up DRACUL at B.A.M. and started today, and falling in fast. What were the challenges you and Dacre Stoker encountered while collaborating on the book? How cool is it to work with Bram's bloodline? Do you have any other collaborations in the pipeline?
J.D. Barker Any time you have two cooks in the kitchen it's important to determine who is good at what, then divide and conquer. In this case, Dacre is a wealth of knowledge on the Stoker family and Dracula in general. Between him and Bram's original notes, this book practically wrote itself.

My next collaboration is titled THE NOISE with James Patterson - it releases this August. Talk about fun to write!
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Will we see a return of Mr. Gaunt from "Needful Things" or other characters from Stephen King's books? Will there be a collaboration with Stephen?
J.D. Barker I'm forever grateful to Mr. King for allowing me to visit with one of his characters in FORSAKEN. I think we both have our hands full with current projects but I've learned never to say never.
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I was asking around for a good book and someone suggested The Fourth Monkey. I burned through it, Fifth To Die, and Sixth Wicked Child. I love everything. I didn’t sleep for days. It’s a joy to read such writing. I really want to know about that Porter scene. Then I read Forsaken and you broke my heart into bits. Why? There isn’t a book two and I have to know what happens to R&A. And Leland appearing? Genius!
J.D. Barker Thanks for the kind words! I'm thrilled to learn you've enjoyed my work. A sequel to FORSAKEN is coming but unfortunately, I'm not in control of my release schedule. If you haven't joined my mailing list yet, that's the best way to stay on top of these things -

https://jdbarker.com/
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