I was a little shocked to learn my time for SleuthSayers was to be twice, for this the "witching month." Fortunately, my magical powers were already working. I had just finished listening to an awesome thriller, BLOWBACK written by my long-time pal, Brendan DuBois and his co-author, James Patterson. Maybe Bren would have time to write an article for one of my turns. I actually had asked if he might be interested a few days before Rob sent out the October calendar. Brendan readily agreed even though the topic I chose was the inane, "What is it like working with Mr. Patterson?"
I had known Brendan years before he became famous: as a JEOPARDY champion and meeting the late incomparable Alex Trebeck. Neither of us are exactly sure when we met, except we both remember partaking in never-ending MWA board member meetings as neophyte Vice-Presidents of our regional chapters and attending numerous Anthony banquets. However, most of our fondest memories are attending PWA dinners. Our most recent meeting was sharing a memorable cab ride in 2018, helping our driver locate an East Dallas restaurant where the PWA banquet was being held. Brendan also kindly helped me enter the SUV taxi the morning I was leaving. I had fallen in my room in the wee morning hours and cracked four posterior ribs. That's the definition of friend who becomes and stays a keeper.
Since I was scheduled for two times this month, 10/3 and 10/31, I gave him a choice. My pal chose the third and here it is.
-Jan Grape
WORKING WITH JAMES PATTERSON
by Brendan DuBois
I had known Brendan years before he became famous: as a JEOPARDY champion and meeting the late incomparable Alex Trebeck. Neither of us are exactly sure when we met, except we both remember partaking in never-ending MWA board member meetings as neophyte Vice-Presidents of our regional chapters and attending numerous Anthony banquets. However, most of our fondest memories are attending PWA dinners. Our most recent meeting was sharing a memorable cab ride in 2018, helping our driver locate an East Dallas restaurant where the PWA banquet was being held. Brendan also kindly helped me enter the SUV taxi the morning I was leaving. I had fallen in my room in the wee morning hours and cracked four posterior ribs. That's the definition of friend who becomes and stays a keeper.
Since I was scheduled for two times this month, 10/3 and 10/31, I gave him a choice. My pal chose the third and here it is.
-Jan Grape
WORKING WITH JAMES PATTERSON
by Brendan DuBois
What's it like to work with James Patterson?
That’s a question I frequently get at conventions, book signings, and at diners, minding my own business over a cup of coffee.
What’s it like to work with James Patterson, one of the most famous and bestselling authors in the world?
It’s like walking on a tightrope.
With no balancing pole.
And with molten lava beneath you.
Hah-hah-hah.
No, just kidding.
Working with James Patterson has been a wonderful experience, from A to Z, with no complaints whatsoever.
My first short story was published in 1986, and my first novel in 1994. When 2016 rolled around, my writing career had had its share of ups and downs --- more downs than ups --- and I was relatively at ease with my lot, that of a mid-list author struggling from one book and one publisher to another.
Then came that proverbial phone call that changes one’s life.
A call came in from a friend of mine in the mystery publishing field, who told me that James Patterson was starting a new publishing line, called BookShots, which were to be co-authored tales no longer than 40,000 words.
James was looking for writers who could write fast, write well, and meet deadlines.
I auditioned with James’ business partner, and soon found myself writing three BookShots, a fun and quick experience. When it came time for the fourth BookShots, I developed an outline from James and submitted it as before.
When the outline was finished, James called me up --- for the first time ever, since my only earlier correspondence was with him via an editor --- and basically said, ‘This outline could be used for a full-length novel. Would you be interested in doing a novel with me? I’ll give you a few days to think about it.’
“I said, ‘No, I’m good, I’d be thrilled to work on a novel with you.’ That became our first work, The First Lady, and later, we worked on another novel called The Cornwalls Are Gone, which was followed by The Summer House and this past September, Blowback. This January, the sequel to The Cornwalls Are Gone --- Countdown --- is coming out.
But then I get the other question…
What’s it really, really, like to work with James Patterson?
A lot of work.
I mean, a lot of work, but also a lot of fun.
We start with the initial idea, and spend about a month or so working out a detailed outline which can run up to 40 pages, and then we get to the real work.
It’s an intensively collaborative process where I learned a lot from the beginning, and continue to learn to this day, with phone calls, pages sent back and forth, As an example, with The First Lady, when I sent him the first draft of the early chapters, he called me and said, “The first three chapters are well-written, but I think they’d work better if you condensed them down to one.”
At first I was a bit jarred --- was I failing already? --- but when I looked at them with a clear and cold eye, he was right.
The first three chapters were condensed into one, and we were off to the races!
Over the years I’ve learned a lot from James, including his wicked sense of humor, his generosity, and his devotion to charitable causes.
As a writer, I’ve learned more in the past six years than the previous sixteen. How to cut to the chase. Quickly set scenes. Make each page and piece of dialogue to work.
A while ago I re-read a thriller I had written a few years earlier and…
Oh my God, what a bloated piece of work!
So I went through and cut about 30,000 words, making it a much better book.
What’s it like to work with James Patterson?
Every morning I pinch myself, considering how fortunate I am.
How’s that for an answer?
Brendan DuBois is the award-winning New York Times bestselling author of twenty-six novels, including THE FIRST LADY and THE CORNWALLS ARE GONE (March 2019), co-authored with James Patterson, THE SUMMER HOUSE (June 2020), and BLOWBACK, which was just published in September. He has also published 200 short stories.
That’s a question I frequently get at conventions, book signings, and at diners, minding my own business over a cup of coffee.
What’s it like to work with James Patterson, one of the most famous and bestselling authors in the world?
It’s like walking on a tightrope.
With no balancing pole.
And with molten lava beneath you.
Hah-hah-hah.
No, just kidding.
Working with James Patterson has been a wonderful experience, from A to Z, with no complaints whatsoever.
My first short story was published in 1986, and my first novel in 1994. When 2016 rolled around, my writing career had had its share of ups and downs --- more downs than ups --- and I was relatively at ease with my lot, that of a mid-list author struggling from one book and one publisher to another.
Then came that proverbial phone call that changes one’s life.
A call came in from a friend of mine in the mystery publishing field, who told me that James Patterson was starting a new publishing line, called BookShots, which were to be co-authored tales no longer than 40,000 words.
James was looking for writers who could write fast, write well, and meet deadlines.
I auditioned with James’ business partner, and soon found myself writing three BookShots, a fun and quick experience. When it came time for the fourth BookShots, I developed an outline from James and submitted it as before.
When the outline was finished, James called me up --- for the first time ever, since my only earlier correspondence was with him via an editor --- and basically said, ‘This outline could be used for a full-length novel. Would you be interested in doing a novel with me? I’ll give you a few days to think about it.’
“I said, ‘No, I’m good, I’d be thrilled to work on a novel with you.’ That became our first work, The First Lady, and later, we worked on another novel called The Cornwalls Are Gone, which was followed by The Summer House and this past September, Blowback. This January, the sequel to The Cornwalls Are Gone --- Countdown --- is coming out.
But then I get the other question…
What’s it really, really, like to work with James Patterson?
A lot of work.
I mean, a lot of work, but also a lot of fun.
We start with the initial idea, and spend about a month or so working out a detailed outline which can run up to 40 pages, and then we get to the real work.
It’s an intensively collaborative process where I learned a lot from the beginning, and continue to learn to this day, with phone calls, pages sent back and forth, As an example, with The First Lady, when I sent him the first draft of the early chapters, he called me and said, “The first three chapters are well-written, but I think they’d work better if you condensed them down to one.”
At first I was a bit jarred --- was I failing already? --- but when I looked at them with a clear and cold eye, he was right.
The first three chapters were condensed into one, and we were off to the races!
Over the years I’ve learned a lot from James, including his wicked sense of humor, his generosity, and his devotion to charitable causes.
As a writer, I’ve learned more in the past six years than the previous sixteen. How to cut to the chase. Quickly set scenes. Make each page and piece of dialogue to work.
A while ago I re-read a thriller I had written a few years earlier and…
Oh my God, what a bloated piece of work!
So I went through and cut about 30,000 words, making it a much better book.
What’s it like to work with James Patterson?
Every morning I pinch myself, considering how fortunate I am.
How’s that for an answer?
Brendan DuBois is the award-winning New York Times bestselling author of twenty-six novels, including THE FIRST LADY and THE CORNWALLS ARE GONE (March 2019), co-authored with James Patterson, THE SUMMER HOUSE (June 2020), and BLOWBACK, which was just published in September. He has also published 200 short stories.
His stories have won three Shamus Awards from the Private Eye Writers of America, two Barry Awards, two Derringer Awards, and the Ellery Queen Readers Award.
In 2021 he received the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement from the Short Mystery Fiction Society.
He is also a JEOPARDY! game show champion.
Wow! What great experiences you've had!
ReplyDeleteThanks Eve! You can see why I still can't believe how lucky I am!
DeleteWell, sometimes really
ReplyDeletehard work pays off and
Brendan has paid
his dues. Even if he is a
"Yankee" he deserves all
good things that are happening
now.
Well, at least I'm not a "damn Yankee..." Thanks Jan! :-)
ReplyDelete