James Patterson on Books, Libraries & the Power of Reading

Author James Patterson has sold more than 425 million books in his career. This

October, he’ll take the stage in Manatee County to reflect on his storied career as part

of Booked for Lunch, the annual fundraiser for the Library Foundation of Manatee

County.

We recently posed a few questions to Patterson in anticipation of his talk:

1. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR EARLY MEMORIES OF LIBRARIES, AND WHAT

ROLE DO YOU SEE LIBRARIES PLAYING IN AN INCREASINGLY DIGITAL

WORLD?

My mom was a teacher, and she also worked at the public library in Newburgh, New

York. My three sisters and I would tag along with her all the time. Back then, libraries

sometimes felt like they were more focused on protecting books rather than getting

them into kids’ hands - but we still became lifelong readers because we were

surrounded by stories.

I think libraries are more important than ever. They're one of the few places where

everyone is welcome, and they're one of the last truly free gifts a community can offer.

I've pitched this one for years - every library should hang a giant banner out front that says, "The Free Store." It's true. You can walk in, discover a new favorite author, learn something you've never known before, and it doesn't cost you a dime.

2. AFTER HUNDREDS OF BOOKS, MILLIONS OF READERS, AND ONE OF THE

MOST SUCCESSFUL WRITING CAREERS IN MODERN PUBLISHING, WHAT STILL

SURPRISES YOU ABOUT STORYTELLING?

What’s fascinating to me are the exciting new voices out there doing things nobody has

done before, and I love seeing that. It's healthy for books and it's healthy for readers.

I also think it's great to see genres like romantasy bringing so many people into

bookstores. If people are reading - whether it's thrillers, romance, fantasy, or literary

fiction - that's a win. We probably have more people writing and reading today than at

any point in history, and that's something to celebrate.

3. HOW HAS RESIDING IN FLORIDA SHAPED YOUR WORK THROUGH THE

YEARS?

The weather certainly doesn't hurt. There's a more relaxed pace than the Northeast,

and I honestly think we've had fewer colds and flus living here. But writing has always

been about routine for me. Whether I'm in Florida, New York, or somewhere else, I still

sit down every day and do what I love.

4. WHAT DO YOU WISH MORE PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, TEACHERS, AND

COMMUNITIES UNDERSTOOD ABOUT HELPING CHILDREN FALL IN LOVE WITH

READING?

This one is actually pretty simple. Too often we worry about giving kids the "right" books

instead of giving them books they'll actually love. If the goal is to get kids reading - we

have to give them books that turn them on.

5. WHAT CAN YOU SHARE ABOUT YOUR FORTHCOMING ALEX CROSS NOVEL,

THE FAMILY CROSS, AND WHY DO YOU THINK THIS CHARACTER CONTINUES

TO RESONATE WITH READERS SO PROFOUNDLY?

I think The Family Cross is probably the most emotional Alex Cross novel I've ever

written. There's a reason for that, but if I told you, I'd spoil the whole book.

What has always made Alex work is that readers don't just admire him - they recognize themselves in him. He's trying to solve impossible cases while also being a father, raising a family, and navigating the same work-life balance the rest of us wrestle with. I think that's why readers continue to come back to him after all these years.

6. WHAT QUESTION HAVE YOU NEVER BEEN ASKED, BUT SECRETLY WISH

SOMEONE WOULD? (AND COULD YOU PLEASE ANSWER IT?)

I don’t work for a living. I play for a living. I genuinely love it. I wake up excited to tell

stories, and I still feel incredibly lucky that I get to do that every day.

Tickets for Booked for Lunch are available at the Library Foundation of Manatee County

website at ManateeLibraryFoundation.org.