Mini-bio
Lee Child was born in 1954 in Coventry, England, but spent his formative years in the nearby city of Birmingham. He went to law school
in Sheffield, England, and after part-time work in the theater he joined Granada Television in Manchester for what turned out to be an
eighteen-year career as a presentation director during British TV's "golden age." During his tenure his company made Brideshead Revisited,
The Jewel in the Crown, Prime Suspect, and Cracker. But he was fired in 1995 at the age of 40 as a result of corporate restructuring.
Always a voracious reader, he decided to see an opportunity where others might have seen a crisis and bought six dollars' worth of paper
and pencils and sat down to write a book, KILLING FLOOR, the first in the Jack Reacher series.
KILLING FLOOR was an immediate success and launched the series which has grown in sales and impact with every new installment.
You have two releases in 2010. Will you be writing more than one book a year now?
It was an experiment this year. We’re just going to see how well it does. With the ending of 61 HOURS it seemed to be the ideal
time to make it a bit quicker. I think I’ll be back to one book a year after this.
What is a typical writing day for you? When you’re deep in a book and everything is flowing along great, what kind of hours are good for you?
I start around 11:30 or 12:00 and go till the quality starts falling off. You’re writing at the height of your ability and because of
fatigue the quality starts to suffer. I've learned to identify and stop at that point. So it’s really not that long of a day. Maybe 5
or 6 hours.
How long does it take to write a novel?
Between 80 and 90 solid writing days. Spread out over a six month period. It’s relatively difficult to find uninterrupted working days.
There’s always something else going on. You think writing is about writing, but in this segment of the market, writing is about
promotion. It becomes weirdly difficult to find the time to write.
Have you ever written yourself into a corner where it’s absolutely impossible to get yourself out?
No, I never have. I don’t have a plan, I don’t have an outline. I do have a well developed sense that warns if I’m heading down a
blind alley. I realize that very, very early… like within a few words and I can change it easily. On the other hand I do it for fun
sometimes. I write an impossible situation because the stakes are supposed to be high and the guy is supposed to be smart. Let’s
see him get out of it. And I’m working it out at the same time he is working it out.
Is there a particular influence behind Jack Reacher?
It’s a story that's 2000 thousand years old. A bunch of people are in trouble and all of a sudden a stranger shows up to solve
the problem and moves on. It’s an ancient trope. It's been market tested and time proves it works.
You don’t use critiquers for your work, do you? Does anyone review your work before it goes to your editor? Do you use Beta readers?
Yes that's true. I don't even like letting the editors read it. After I'm done writing the book, I'd like the next reader to be the
public buying the book because that's who I’m writing it for. I don't rely on any kind of feedback. I don't have any writing
companions. I finish the book and send it to the editor and hopefully it'll get published with as few changes as possible.
In 2008 at a book signing at Powell's books in Portland Oregon, you said, "will Reacher survive book 14?" Were you already thinking of ending 61 HOURS that way?
This is a two part issue. First of all this was the last book in a two book contract. I never take anything for granted. Maybe this
is the final book. I feel it’s polite to take that into account as a possibility. I didn't seriously think it would be. Second…I'm
reluctant to write the same book over again. That final scene I left a little bit ambiguous. I'm trusting the reader a little more
than I used to. I've been letting Reacher say two plus two is…and the reader answers four. All the clues and information are there
in the last chapter of 61 HOURS to figure out if and how he survived.
What kind of response are you expecting from your readers about the surprising ending? Are you prepared for the deluge of emails?
I don’t want to sound cynical about it, but it's the 14th and what can people say about the 14th book except it's another Reacher book.
This will give them something to talk about. It'll provide a little bit of uncertainty at the end of it. It’s not a situation that is
as reliable anymore, they'll be a little concerned.
Can you say anything about book 15 that is coming out in October 2010?
I'm not going to say anything about book 15 except that it'll be out in October and you'll have to wait and see who will be the
main character.
61 HOURS was very cold. While reading the book, I found the weather often to be a bigger threat to Reacher than the villain.
I've always wanted to write a cold book. Many of my books tend to be warm weather books. I wanted the weather to be a character, a hostile character.
Do you ever hear from women readers who ask you to make Reacher settle down? Find him someone permanent?
That's a minority opinion. I do hear from some who wish he'd find some permanent companionship. Some say it'd be great if he could be
happy. The majority wish he would stay footloose and fancy free because maybe then in the next book he could be walking in through
their back door. It depends on the personality of the reader. The compassionate sort want him to be happy. The more adventurous
want to hook up with him.
What would make you stop writing? Is that possible? What if a contract never got renewed?
There is the daydreaming half and the business half to writing. I think a writer will always continue daydreaming, speculating "what if"
and thinking of stories. But there is the other part of having to get the story down on paper, finishing it by the deadline, get it submitted, get it published, and
get it promoted. I obviously will never stop the daydreaming half, because writers just solely do that and there is no way to stop it.
Whether or not you choose to carry on the business half and make it your job depends on the rewards. If we are in an economic situation
where writers can continue to make a living, I will keep on doing that.
If you were going to write a non-Reacher novel, what would it be?
I have some ideas. I'd like to write a book set somewhat in the past or one set somewhat in the future. I don’t think I'd write
another present day novel. I think these ideas are unlikely to go anywhere because people want the Reacher books and I'm more than
happy to keep on doing them.
Who do you like to read? Who do you keep an eye out for and grab their books as soon as they come out?
I have a list I call the three second rule. It's when you’re in the airport and you’ve got three seconds to choose a book before getting
to a flight, who is going to be reliable? There’s a bunch of people on that list for me. Michael Connelly, Robert Crais, and Laura Lippman
are a few.
There are two things I love. When an established writer steps up a few tiers and produces something fantastic. And there’s no bigger
thrill when I discover a new writer. It’s also very motivating to keep writing, knowing there are hordes of new writers right over
my shoulder and you’ve got to keep writing or else they’re gonna run me over.
Do you have a favorite TV show?
I don’t watch any TV. I watch sports only. I used to work in TV and I can tell within a few minutes what’s going to happen. I
like sports because it's the only unpredictable thing left.
What advice do you have for new writers in today’s market?
Do not worry about today's market. Despite what they hear, I guarantee agents and editors wake up every morning hoping today is the
day they find the next great thing. That's why they get up in the morning. They are hungry for it. If it's a good book it will
definitely sell; I guarantee it.
My advice is ignore all advice. The only way a book works is if the one mind that created it is 100% personally invested in the book.
That way it has a spark, an organic quality, a vitality. For example: If you want to do A, and Michael Connelly says do B, and Stephen King says do
C, and Lee Child says do D and Clive Cussler says you need to do something earlier in the book and Michael Connelly says you need to
do something later, you'll be horribly confused and compromised and it becomes a committee decision and has no spark of life about it.
You've got to close your mind and do exactly what you think is right. That way at least you're at the starting line. The only thing
that gets you to the starting line is that organic vital vibrant quality that comes from an uncompromised vision. If you compromise
and do it by committee you won’t even get to the starting line.
TheNovelBlog.com would like to thank Lee for his time and answers.
Kendra Elliot
Guest Reviewer
TheNovelBlog.com