James’s Comments (group member since Oct 19, 2010)

James’s comments from the Q&A with James Patterson group.

Hmm... interesting idea! I have so many books in the air, that I haven't had time to entertain the thought. I can't give you a yes or no on "Crossover" yet.

That's right, Scot--Alex Cross's Trial sort of stands on its own. Alex learns the story of his great-uncle via Nana. It explores some pretty dark history about racism in our country and the Cross family's struggle to gain freedom.

Hi Carissa--right now, I'm really proud of Witch & Wizard. I've been working on it for quite a while. I know a lot of good folks who blog on max-dan-wiz.com are on fanfiction, so I'll have to check this St. Fang out.

So you want a fourth Daniel X? Okay, you got it. Witch & Wizard: The Gift is out next month--and trust me, it's really good.

Hi Bart--as I was saying in the other thread, I don’t really find it more difficult to write for teens. The story’s got to be exciting, and I have to feel the emotion in each page of any of my books, otherwise it’s not going to work. Kids love to laugh--so I make sure to keep the story full of as many punchlines as there are punches. A couple old-school favorites are To Kill a Mockingbird, and those old Uncle Scrooge comics.

I don’t really find it more difficult to write for teens. The story’s got to be exciting, and I have the feel the emotion in each page of any of my books, otherwise it’s not going to work. Kids love to laugh—well, we all love to laugh, don’t we?—so I make sure to keep the story full of as many punchlines as there are punches.

I put myself through college by working nights at a mental institution. After seeing the many different people pass through there, and I mean different, I knew I had to start scribbling, telling stories that just couldn’t be ignored.

The trick to avoid staring at that first blank page for too long is to outline. I always plot out how I want my story to go, and then make the outline thicker and thicker. It’s worked for all sixty-one of my books.

There are plans in the works to make the Max movie in 3D, but that’s not set in stone.

Hi Will--one of the scripts that we’re pushing forward now is the Witch & Wizard movie. It’s looking to be pretty twisty, dark, and magical. I think this one could be really great.

Thanks, Ronell. That book really seemed to click for a lot of people.

There were a lot of scenes in the movies where I learned more about Alex Cross than I had ever written. Did you know he has a sister? I didn’t.

I have really high hopes for the third Cross movie. I think Idris Elba would make a terrific young Cross.

Thanks very much for joining my group. I will be back on November 15 to start the discussion. In the meantime, please feel free to introduce yourself.