James Patterson is one of the bestselling writers of all time. He is the author of the two bestselling detective series of the past decade, the Alex Cross novels and the Women’s Murder Club series, and he has written many other number one bestsellers. He has won an Edgar award, the mystery world’s highest honour, and his novels Kiss the Girls and Along Came A Spider were made into feature films. Torn Apart is his first work of non-fiction. He lives in Florida.
Interview with James Patterson for SKY Kids magazine:
Where is your favourite place to write?
My study at home, but really any place semi-quiet and well-lit.
How did your come up with the idea for the Maximum Ride series?
Somewhere along the line—as with most of us, I think—I had a flying dream.
Who is your favourite character in the Maximum Ride series? Why?
Characters are like children—one doesn’t pick favorites. What kind of dad would I be?
Who do you think is the coolest action or super hero of all time?
This guy I know called Daniel X. You’ll learn a lot more about him in July.
Have you ever wanted to be a detective or secret agent?
Nope. There’s not enough time to write books in either of those occupations.
If you could fly like the members of the Flock, where would you go?
To the movies and the bookstore mostly. Same as now only, I guess, I’d get there a little faster.
Have you ever been on a fantastic adventure?
I don’t know about fantastic, but I’ve been some pretty fun places. Kenya was one.
What was your biggest fear as a kid? What is your biggest fear now?
Not ever leaving my home town was probably my biggest fear. My biggest fear now? Not having enough time to finish all the stories I want to tell.
What authors do you admire?
James Joyce, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Frederick Forsyth, Michael Lewis, Michael Connelly, George Pelecanos . . .
What was your favourite book as a kid?
Maybe Treasure Island. But, truth be told, I didn’t really come to love books till I was no longer a kid.
What is the best thing about being a writer?
Having people read your stories.
What was your best subject in school?
Not to be arrogant, but I was pretty good at everything, actually. I think I was valedictorian. Still, English was what I was most excited about.
What was your worst subject in school?
I just don’t remember. Maybe home economics?
What’s your favourite word?
Yes.
Are you anything like the characters in your books?
I suppose it depends which ones, but I’m American like most of them.
If you met an alien from outer space, what one question would you want to ask it?
I’d ask if it liked to read books. You can tell a lot about a person based on the answer to that question.
What’s the coolest gadget or piece of technology that you own?
My pencil. Followed by my pencil sharpener. And, after that, probably my Amazon or Sony e-Reader.
Do you like inventing good guy or bad guys best?
Good guys are harder, but I’m generally more proud of them.
Do you have any tips for young writers?
Outline, outline, and outline. Always start with an outline. You’ll save yourself such time and headache if you know where you’re going before you start writing.
Are you good at spelling? Any words that always catch you out?
Broccoli. And I don’t like to eat it either.
INTERVIEW WITH JAMES PATTERSON TO BECOME RIF READING STAR:
Why do you think reading is fun?
A good book is very nearly my definition of fun.
Why do you think reading is fundamental?
Because it teaches you how to think, how to put yourself in other people’s heads, how to understand the world . . . I could go on.
What book, writer or other person had the biggest impact on your life?
There have been a bunch. From teachers, to books like Day of the Jackal and Ulysses . . . one thing I think you’ll find as a dedicated reader is that life becomes a very rewarding place—so rewarding, it’s hard to identify the all the sources.
Where and when do you like to read? What was the strangest place you ever read a book?
I like to read anyplace that has sufficient light. I’ve read in trains, planes, automobiles, and elevators, and on several continents and oceans . . . maybe the strangest place ever was when I was an usher at the old Fillmore Theater in New York.
What memories do you have of reading when you were a child?
Not enough. Hence a lot of my dedication to seeing that this doesn’t happen to other kids. I feel like I lost a lot of important years there.
What advice would you give to a child who was interested in becoming an author?
Make sure it’s what you want to do. It’s hard work and there are low odds of success .
What’s the best and worst thing about being an author?
That’s a little too profound for me to have a handle on. I can tell you I think there’s more upside than downside in my experience.
If you weren’t an author, what would you be?
Probably still in advertising. And not happy about it.
What do you do to relax (apart from read!)?
Apart from reading? Mostly I hang out with my family and watch movies.
And finally…Marmite or peanut butter?
You mean to eat? Clearly the latter. If you’re talking about as an industrial compound, maybe marmite has a place. I mean just look at the name: it’s like calcite, lucite, dolomite . . .
