When I started at the Allen County Public Library 4 years ago, I only paid attention to the authors that I was reading (which was mostly paranormal romance). I started at the library as a book shelver and I learned early on that James Patterson held a huge monopoly over our fiction collection. We own at least 2 copies of every James Patterson book. When a new book is released we own an initial 6 to 8 copies that are weeded down to 2 or 3 as the years pass. James Patterson takes up about four or five shelves in our fiction collection. He is also shelved in our mystery section, large print, and young adult. It seems like he is releasing a book every five minutes (ok....slightly exaggerating)! When a new book is released, and often before it even hits the shelf, there is a hold list a mile long with patrons waiting to get it.
It wasn't until I worked at the library for about a year before I learned that James Patterson uses co-authors. My manager at the time was talking to me while I was shelving Patterson books and she asked me if I knew that he doesn't even write them anymore, that he pays others to write them for him. I was shocked and disturbed by the news at the time.
However, I will say that my opinion has changed since reading the Patterson article by Jeff Zaleski. Patterson seems to have a very down to earth attitude about the whole thing and freely admits that he has others helping him with the books. He also stated that he is always in contact with these co-authors and oversees most of what they do. Having co-authors allows Patterson to focus more time on his family while still keeping his name in the public eye. "His primary aim, he tells us, was to get back to what I do, and that's less to be the #1 novelist than to have a life" Patterson is having fun and enjoys what he does for a living. He still writes daily but is not under the amount of pressure as other authors to keep cranking out popular fiction. I give him credit for figuring out the formula for writing and having a life. Perhaps he should give his co-authors a little more credit, perhaps even a picture on the novel, but more power to him as his followers are going to stay strong for years to come!!
I think his use of co-authors also gives him the opportunity to write across several genres. For instance, children's fiction is more difficult to write (in my opinion, anyway) because you have to write at their level without writing down to their level. Having another author to help with the nuances of the new genre ensures that the book is more likely to be a success. It also prevents him from getting too stale - there are way too many authors that I believe stopped having original ideas after about six to eight books.
ReplyDeleteAnd while I agree that it would do everyone credit to give more attention to his co-authors, I'm not sure that we can blame that on Patterson personally (though the Patterson brand is a different matter). Everything that I read indicates that in personal interviews, he gives quite a bit of credit to his co-authors. It's likely the publishers and media coverage that skew the public's perception that he writes alone. Perhaps they assume it won't sell as well if they give more credit to the co-authors.
Lauren I completely agree!! Danielle Steel was great back in the late 1990s. Now, however, I feel like I can predict what and where the story is going. Even Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series has become a little boring and predictable. I do not fault Patterson at all. He has found the right recipe and is sticking too it.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I'm not alone! I was shocked to read the criticism Patterson gets for writing a lot of books in a short amount of time. He is upfront about using co-authors, so why does it matter? People use co-writers for screenplays, TV shows, etc., so why should books be any different? Having an additional point of view can help make the writing that much better. Patterson seems to have a lot of great ideas and probably not enough time to write them all. Why shouldn't he get help? People love his books!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Lucy. However, he should acknowledge the co-authors in the book. Additionallly, on the topic that Amanda brings up about Danielle Steel, I also agree with her. This is why I don't like sequels to successful books or movies. I always know what's going to happen and it's boring! I liked Danielle Steel in the beginning, but have found her very predictable and boring as well.
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