Sales Will Keep Them Together

by Karen Holt -- Publishers Weekly, 1/19/2007

James Patterson doesn't know how many books he's written. No, seriously, he tells me, he's lost count. Here's something he does know—there's too much book snobbery going around. You know what he means, all those lists of "best books" that almost no one reads. "Where's the logic?," he asks. "Where's the charity? What's wrong with saying 'it's okay to read a John Grisham novel?"

We're talking during pre-dinner cocktails at Manhattan's Café Gray Wednesday, in a private room full of journalists from leading publications—Vanity Fair, the Wall Street Journal, Fortune. It's safe to say at least a few of us here have been guilty of the very attitude he's criticizing. But tonight, it's all about celebrating Patterson and his newest book, Step on a Crack, an Alex Cross thriller and his most recent collaboration with co-writer Michael Ledwidge.

During dinner, Little, Brown publisher Michael Pietsch gets up to introduce his long-time author, announcing,"In 2006 James Patterson was the number 1 bestselling writer in America. Period." About the novelist's practice of working with co-writers, Pietsch explains. "Jim has more stories in his head than he could possibly write working on his own." To put it into perspective, he lists some of the great artistic partnerships—McCartney-Lennon, the Captain and Tennille.

"Love will keep us together," Pietsch says, as he sits and the author stands.

"Hi. I'm Richard Ford," Patterson tells the room. "No wait--I'm John Updike."

Ford/Updike/Patterson spend a minute praising the guest of honor's talent. Then Patterson elaborates on Pietsch's remark about his U.S. sales in 2006. "12 million books. Yikes!," he says, showing that some numbers do stick in his head. "The same thing happened in the United Kingdom. Double yikes!"

This article originally appeared in the January 19, 2007 issue of PW Daily. For more information about PW Daily, including a sample and subscription information, click here »

« Back | Print