NYT: "James Patterson, Inc."

The recent NYT Magazine article about prolific author James Patterson has a few key facts relevant to my current Women's Murder Club research project (see previous posts).  Johnathan Mahler interviewed Patterson and wrote the article.

According to the article:

• In 2009 Patterson sold an estimated 14 million copies of his books.  The novels appeared in 38 different languages.
• "Since 2006, one out of every 17 novels bought in the United States was written by James Patterson" (Mahler, 2010). 
• "According to Nielsen BookScan, Grisham’s, King’s and Brown’s combined U.S. sales in recent years still don’t match Patterson’s" (Mahler, 2010).
• The most recent edition of the Guinness World Records has Patterson listed as the author with the most NYT best sellers.
• 35 of his books went to No. 1 on the NYT best sellers list.  Patterson has had a total of 51 books on the list.

These stats along with other similar statistics help justify my current WMC study. Patterson's work has reached a large number of people.

In addition to these author stats, the article also talks about the strong role that Patterson takes in writing, publishing and marketing of his work.  Michael Pietsch (editor and the publisher of Little, Brown):  “Jim is at the very least co-publisher of his own books” (Mahler, 2010).

Besides working very closely with the publishers, he works closely with his group of co-authors. "He is part executive producer, part head writer, setting out the vision for each book or series and then ensuring that his writers stay the course. This kind of collaboration is second nature to Patterson from his advertising days, and it’s certainly common in other creative industries, including television" (Mahler, 2010).

According to the NYT article, the writing process for Patterson and his co-authors follows this pattern.

1. Patterson writes a detailed outline.
2. Co-author writes the chapters
3. Patterson reads, revises or sometimes rewrites
4. Co-author writes next draft.

Michael Pietsch, Patterson's publisher, compares Patterson to past mystery writers like Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett in terms of plotting and pacing.

The NYT article also mentioned that a prof at Harvard Business School (John Deighton) wrote a case study about Patterson and the marketing of his books. I'd like to read that case study.  However, all I could find (online) was a listing for the case in the author's CV.

The article put most of the attention on Patterson's books and very little on his film and TV projects.  The article did mention that Patterson is currently working on a movie project with Avi Arad (producer Spider-Man, X-Men) based on "Maximum Ride," Patterson's young adult novel series.  The article also mentioned that Patterson and his partners had already "raised the financing for a new Alex Cross movie that Patterson is helping to write" (Mahler, 2010).

James Patterson on Women in his Writing

In my last post I shared some info. about why James Patterson sometimes writes from a woman's perspective, for example, in the Women's Murder Club series and in Suzanne's Diary For Nicholas.

Just found a little more info. on this.  In an undated interview, when asked about writing from a woman's perspective, Patterson says:

"I grew up in a house full of women: my mother, grandmother, three sisters, and two female cats. And I still have the buzz of their conversations in my head. As an adult, I have more female friends than male ones: I just love the way that women talk."

Notice the similarity between this answer and the answer he gave in the video found in my previous post.  Sounds like he has been asked this question many times and now has a "standard" answer.

The Women's Murder Club and Crime Solving [Video]

In the WPBF news interview below, James Patterson describes where his idea for the Women's Murder Club novel series came from.  This is relevant to my current research because the current focus of the research is on how the four women in the Women's Murder Club TV series do (or do not) approach crime solving differently than men do.

Patterson says in the interview: "I love the way women solve problems.  They do it differently than men.  When men get together they all come in and say 'I have the answer,' 'No, I have the answer.'  Women... are more collaborative.  And I think that makes for a very unique approach to crime solving."

"I grew up in a house full of women, mother, grandmother, three sisters, two female cats.  And that buzz still [inaudible] in my head.  So, that is how I think I got part, part of why I got writing that particular series."



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82QYH4r-_2s

Where Does Patterson's Short Chapters and Compactness Come From?

On NPR a few days ago James Patterson discussed a novel that influenced him, Mrs. Bridge: A Novel.

Patterson notes in the audio that Mrs. Bridge: A Novel "certainly helped inspire [his] writing style. Short chapters, compactness, and clarity."   Listen to the full audio of James Patterson below.

In the audio does it sound like James is channeling Andy Rooney or is that just me?  :)

Note also the mention of "mysteries" in the audio.  Patterson writes mysteries, right?

* Sources for this Post at Delicious.
Listen to the full audio of James Patterson below.

Patterson's "Private" Novel to be Adapted for TV

Variety reports that James Patterson's upcoming novel "Private" will be adapted for a TV drama on CBS.  Jason Cahill will write the adaptation.  Cahill has written for "Fringe," "The Sopranos," "NYPD Blue" and "ER."  Cahill will also serve as producer along with Brian Grazer, David Nevins and Patterson.

According to Digital Spy the main character of the upcoming "Private" novel is Jack Morgan, a former Marine and CIA agent.  In the novel Morgan has his hands full.  He takes over his father's private investigation and security business.  He investigates a NFL gambling problem.  He tries to track down the murder of 18 school girls and he also works on the murder of his best friend's wife.

Maxine Paetro co-authored "Private" with Patterson.

*Sources for this post at Delicious

Patterson Writes Mysteries?

Earlier tonight I dropped by my local Barnes and Noble to see what James Patterson books they had.  I first searched the mystery section of the store, but didn't find any Patterson there.  I asked the salesperson at the information desk where I'd find Patterson's work and why.  Well, I actually knew the where.  It was in the "Literature and Fiction" section.   

It was the answer to the why-question that was more interesting.  The salesperson said the publisher decides (at least in B&N's case) what section of the store in which the book is placed.  The salesperson mentioned also just a few weeks ago the publisher told B&N to move Patterson's teen novels to the "Literature & Fiction" section. However, they moved the teen novel back because, I assume, sales went down.

What section should Patterson's Cross and WMC novels be placed?  Mystery?  Are these mysteries novels?  What is a mystery?

To be continued...

James Patterson on Exposition and Character

In this short clip from the JamesPatterson.com site Patterson talks about his style of writing about his characters.  He says his style is colloquial storytelling in which there is not an excess of information shared about the characters.  Some authors give a lot of background information, but Patterson does not.  This works especially when you can spread out background information over a series of novels.


Find more videos like this on The James Patterson Community

Legends & Legacies: James Patterson (YouTube Video)

A 4 minute + video giving some good background on James Patterson.