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Interview by Courtney M.
Q: Are most of your books mysteries?
JP: If by mystery you mean books in which crimes get solved, I suppose a good number of the books I've written are mysteries. I have also written some straight-up adventure books like the
Maximum Ride series, a couple love stories (like
Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas), and some other stuff, too. But if you're looking for what genre I try to make all of my books fit into, you might call them "page-turners" rather than mysteries or anything else.
Q: Is it hard to start writing a book?
JP: If you really want to write the book, it sure isn't. I find I often have the opposite problem–I want to write too many.
Q: How long does it usually take you to write a book?
JP: Anywhere from a bit less than a year to several years. It depends and, of course, I'm often working on more than one at a given time.
Interview by Danielle W. from Pennsylvania
Q: Are you married?
JP: Yes, to a gal named Sue.
Q: Do you have Children? And if so, how old?
JP: You don't care how old my wife is? Probably best that way. She might not like me sharing. Yes, I have a son named Jack. He's 9.
Q: Where did you attend college?
JP: I did my undergrad degree at Manhattan College.
Q: How long did you stay?
JP: 4 years.
Q: Who gave you inspiration to write when you were younger?
JP: I had to write things as a student, but I didn't really take up writing fiction till I was a young man. So, really, I don't think anybody in particular did inspire me when I was your age.
Q: When did you decide to become a novelist?
JP: Shortly after I fell in love with books, shortly after high school.
Q: How supportive was your family when you told them that you wanted to become a novelist?
JP: I decided before I started a family. If you mean my parents and siblings, they were actually okay with it. Of course, I had a day job at the time.
Q: What is your favorite novel and by who?
JP: Here's a list of a few of them:
- The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth
- The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
- One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
- Ulysses by James Joyce
- Holes by Louis Sachar
Q: Who is your favorite Novelist?
JP: Oh, maybe Mr. Garcia Marquez. Or Mr. Joyce. Or...
Q: If you got the chance to meet him or her, what would you ask? And Why?
JP: I'd probably ask them what so many of my fans ask me: "When's the next book coming?" Not too original, I know, but that's how it is when you're addicted to an author's books.
Q: Where do you go for inspiration?
JP: I don't usually need to seek inspiration for some reason, ideas just seem to come to me. Of course, someplace quiet is more conducive to this than someplace noisy.
Q: What was your favorite novel to write? Why?
JP: The Maximum Ride series because it was just fun to write. I don't know, you'd probably have to read it to understand.
Q: Where do you find is the best place to spark your imagination?
JP: I get most of my writing done in my office (in my house) house if that's what you're asking.
Q: Which character do you mostly relate to?
JP: If you ever write books you'll come to realize that your characters are like your children, you relate to them all in different ways.
Q: How do you prepare for a novel?
JP: There's not much to it, really. I eat some breakfast, talk to my family a bit, and then I go and sharpen some pencils and find a pad of paper...
Q: What was your reaction when you first heard that you were getting your first novel published?
JP: Relief. Two dozen publishers had turned it down before Little, Brown & Company accepted it. And then, of course, it won a big award.
Q: Where do you like to go to relax? Why?
JP: The movies or a bookstore. I love movies and books.
Q: How do you choose topics for your novels?
JP: Again, it's sort of more like they choose me than like I choose them. When a good idea for a novel comes to me, I just make sure to write it down.
Q: On average, how long does it take for you to finish a novel?
JP: One to three years, probably. It depends how many others I'm working on at the time.
Q: What advice would you give aspiring writers?
JP: Outline, outline, and outline. It's a whole lot easier to write if you have a good idea where you want to go.
Q: How would you tell them to set their goals?
JP: Make sure you really like writing because–like with anything–if you don't enjoy the process, it's hard work. Sometimes it's easy to fall in love with the idea of being something without realizing you don't really enjoy the process of getting there.
Q: Do you have a favorite quote? If so, what is it?
JP: Not really. Maybe one of those nice things people say about my books that you can find on the back of the jackets.
Q: Do you have anything else you would like to share?
JP: Just that I hope you're having a great spring there at Delaware Valley High & that you're reading good stuff.
Got some homework?
James has answered many students' questions over the years but, for the first time,
jamespatterson.com is collecting them here in one easy-to-access place. Here's a list of questions and answers, arranged alphabetically by subject. If there's a particular topic you're looking for and you don't see it at first glance, you might also try searching this page for it by using your browswer's search function: try hitting Ctrl + F for PC and Cmd + F if you're using a Mac.
If that doesn't work, and you still can't find the answer you're looking for, please try emailing your question to James here. Because of the thousands of messages he gets every month, he can't get back to every request, but he answers at least a couple each week and he does try to keep an eye peeled especially for students such as yourself.
BOOKS BY JAMES
Q: Where did you come up with the idea for Maximum Ride and the flock?
...Caitlin B.
JP: From the time I was a kid I've loved stories about flying–Peter Pan, Icarus and, as I got older, novels like Birdie. I always wanted to come up with my own story about human beings flying and Maximum Ride is the happy result.
EDUCATION
Q: Can you please tell me where you went to university?
...Chris C.
JP: For my undergraduate degree I went to Manhattan College which, curiously enough, to those of who know New York City geography, is in the Bronx. For my masters, I went to Vanderbilt University, which is in Tennessee.
Q: Hi, I'm writing an essay about you for my grade nine English class and I was wondering, what book are you most proud of? Also what did you study in college and get your masters degree in
...Rachel S.
JP: Hands down, I am most proud of Maximum Ride. And--this probably isn't too much of a surprise--I got my masters degree in writing. Hope I'm getting back to you in time for you to use for your essay. Have a great summer.
Q: Did you have a favorite teacher? What was so great about him or her?
...Edgar R.
JP: I had a professor when I was an undergraduate who told me I wrote well enough but to stay away from novels. So that wasn't one of my favorites. Then in graduate school another professor gave me a lot of encouragement to write a novel, so he would have to be my favorite. I guess we like the people who tell us what we want to hear.
FAMILY
Q: I am writing a report for English and have selected you as the author, but I can't find much about your personal life (school, parents, siblings, etc.).
...Matt O.
JP: You think I'm going to tell you a lot of personal stuff, Matt?! Just kidding. Yes, I went to school, I had parents and siblings as well. Actually I went to grammar & high school in Newburgh, New York, then Manhattan College, and Vanderbilt for graduate school. My mother was a teacher. I have three sisters, who adore me.
FAVORITES
Q: Do you have any favorite books?
...Carrie P.
JP: Yes, yes I do. There's a list of some of my favorites right here.
GENRES
Q: I love to read mystery books but I have never been a fan of love stories. Which is why it kind of surprised me to see you write the book Suzanne's Diary to Nicholas (which is part of the reason I read it and now [is] my favorite love story). I was just wondering what made you go from writing big action mystery thrillers to such a sad love story?
...Vicki S.
JP: That's a bit of a long story and there were a lot of factors but one of the most important was that as a young man I had a person in my life who was very, very close to me. And she died ... and, well, that was a big part of the inspiration for the story I wanted to tell.
As to genres, I don't really consider that as much as you might think. I enjoy writing thrilling stories, so a lot of them are considered thrillers. But, when an idea like Suzanne's occurs to me, I'll write it, even if it's a love story.
For me, I like the story to determine the genre, not the other way around.
And of course there's my Maximum Ride series, which is my absolute favorite and would be considered fantasy, I guess.
INFLUENCES
Q: Who most encouraged you to be a writer?
...Michelle A.
JP: I guess it would have to be my grandmother and she didn't actually encourage me to be a writer but she did tell that I could be anything I wanted to be. Except a guard in the NBA because I just wasn't quick enough.
PERSONAL STORIES
Q: I was wondering if you could tell me any funny incidents or characteristics to enhance my paper.
...Hannah C.
JP: All right, here's a story from back when I was in high school. I got called on in class and unfortunately I was off in my own little world, so I had no idea what the answer was. My best friend whispered "James Fennimore Cooper." So I answered, "James Fennimore Cooper." Unfortunately, it was geometry class.
