Restless Nights for Bestselling Author James Patterson: The Chatter That Haunts His Sleep
James Patterson, the prolific author known for selling over 400 million books, discusses his extensive body of work, process, and future plans in an interview with Terry Gross.
Kicking off the interview, Patterson mentions his many literary series, including the "Alex Cross" detective novels, the "Women's Murder Club," and "Maximum Ride." These works have been adapted into films and television shows, such as the Amazon Prime series, "Cross." Patterson also mentions his collaborative projects with renowned figures like Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, with a second collaboration with Clinton set to be published this summer.
Patterson discusses his career journey, starting with his tenure as a copywriter at J. Walter Thompson advertising agency, where he rose to become the CEO and head of the agency's North America division. He reveals that he typically works with collaborators, outlining stories in great detail before collaborating on the writing. His memoir, "James Patterson By James Patterson," provides a deeper look into this process.
Recently, Patterson has partnered with YouTube star MrBeast on a thriller. Reflecting on his wealth, Patterson also highlights his philanthropic efforts, including financial support for schools, classroom libraries, teacher and writer education scholarships, and independent bookstores. To recognize his work, Patterson received the Lifelong Learning Award from WHYY, the public radio and TV station where "Fresh Air" is produced.
When asked about the voices in his head that inspire his stories, Patterson shares that each of his books has a unique voice. He explains that hisше Sakalovich, Russian poet Jules Laforgue, and Thomas Merton, the Catholic monk who wrote "Seven Storey Mountain," greatly influenced his early literary aspirations. Patterson's thoughts on spirituality center on the idea that people should strive to do their best, no matter their background or circumstances.
During the interview, Patterson also reflects on his youth, including his time as an usher at the Fillmore East and his decision to spend 10 days at a Trappist monastery. He admits that while contemplating life goals, the monks' advice resonated with him, though he ultimately chose a different career path.
Concluding the interview, Patterson humorously introduces Stephen King to the stage, praising him for the honor. The conversation then proceeds with Patterson discussing his experiences writing, the process behind collaborating with co-authors, and his early love for reading Thomas Merton and attending the Trappist monastery.
- James Patterson, in his interview with Terry Gross, talks about his numerous literary series like "Alex Cross," "Women's Murder Club," and "Maximum Ride," which have been transformed into movies and TV shows.
- Patterson's prior experience includes working as the CEO and head of the North America division at J. Walter Thompson advertising agency, where he began as a copywriter.
- The prolific author often collaborates with others, detailing the story before co-writing, as witnessed in his collaborative projects with figures such as Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, with another collaboration with Clinton scheduled for this summer.
- Patterson has philanthropically supported various education initiatives, including schools, classroom libraries, scholarships for teachers and writers, and independent bookstores.
- Reflecting on his writing process, Patterson shares that each of his books has a distinct voice, influenced by writers like hisshe Sakalovich, Jules Laforgue, and Thomas Merton.
- On the topic of spirituality, Patterson encourages people to strive for self-improvement regardless of their background or circumstances.
- Apart from literature, Patterson's interests span across various fields, including movies and TV, personal growth, career development, pop culture, sci-fi and fantasy, general news, crime and justice, and various learning opportunities, such as skills training.
