Joanne Brokaw

Joanne Brokaw asked Erik Larson:

I'm a huge fan of all of your books (I finished "Dead Wake" last night), and am always amazed at the way you're able to turn tons of research into a compelling narrative that reads like a novel. Do you do all of your research first and then write, or are you writing as you're researching?

Erik Larson I try to do as much research as possible in advance. I'd like to have it ALL done before I write, but that's never quite possible. What happens is, I get to a point where I feel the story just wants to get written, and then I begin writing just a page a day, while continuing my research. Soon, though, one page becomes two which becomes three....

More Answered Questions

Rae Colley

Rae Colley asked Erik Larson:

Like you appear to be, I am fascinated by oceans and their possibilities. I went through a huge Titanic fixation many years ago. Why do you think the Lusitania has never provoked a similar level of international obsession?

Meg Marlowe

Meg Marlowe asked Erik Larson:

I basically wrote a laudatory review, but Goodreads said, "UM...no" so here is my question: Will you continue to write parallel stories, as in "Devil" & "Thunderstruck", or do you not plan that? I guess what I am saying is, do you choose your stories, or do they choose you? & do you think we will see more books from you with concurrent stories? (but I love all your stories. You are my favorite contemporary writer).

Christen Jeschke

Christen Jeschke asked Erik Larson:

How are you able to create such detailed scenes and narratIves as if you were in the room as each scene is occurring.?

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