I have a number of favorite authors—those stellar bestsellers that are impossible to beat. Many are namebrands, familiar in every household. Most of them are mystery, suspense, action/adventure or thriller authors. Those are the ones that really pull me in. Their novels live in my mind so clearly that I’m drawn in and feel as though I live inside their stories.
I’ve compiled a few of these authors’ fun interviews. Just click on their names. Generally, each one of these heavy-hitters have done multiple interviews over their long careers. I’ve tried to compile their most recent ones.
Tell me what you think. If you’re a reader, these interviews will draw you in—they’ll show you how human, yet how very imaginative, these fine writers are. WARNING: after reading/listening to/watching each of these interviews, you’ll want to buy all of their books. If you’re a writer, these interviews will inspire you to write even better stories.
Do me a favor and add links to better interviews you’ve found as well as those of some of your favorite authors that I haven’t included. Tell us why you like them.
Here’s my list.
Douglas Preston: Author of many bestsellers, including The Codex. He gave me an excellent review on my thriller Brainstorm. Teamed up with Lincoln Childs, they wrote The Relic as well as eleven other thrillers in a series featuring the unforgettable FBI Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast. Now they have another bestselling series out—will it ever stop? I hope not.
James Rollins: Writes the action-packed, bestselling Sigma Force series, as well as many other chart-toppers. He has certainly inspired me—and he’s a heck of a nice guy in person. It doesn’t hurt any that he also gave me a great review for Brainstorm.
Dean Koontz: The biggest influence on my writing career, early on. His imagery and description are second to none. You’ll find some fun audio and video about his golden retriever Trixi, as well as some other really great content, including interviews, on his incredible website.
Stephen King: Who hasn’t this guy influenced and inspired?
James Lee Burke: A great writer whose characterization is unbeatable.
Tess Gerritson: A fun lady who knows how to write great thrillers.
James Patterson (1) & (2): Does anyone not love his Alex Cross novels and the way he can mix Cross’s personal life with the dramatic plot and make it fun and exciting?
Nelson DeMille: I love this guy—a really smooth storyteller who can make you believe anything he writes in his stories.
Clive Cussler: The action/adventure king of thrillers—a true Thrillermaster!
Robert B. Parker: Creator of Spencer and Jesse Stone, now deceased, but what a wonderful storyteller!
I could go on and on, but my brief comments won’t do any of them the least bit of justice. Here are a few more of my favorites:
John Connolly
Harlan Coban (1) (2)
Nora Roberts (a.k.a. J D Robb)
Phillip Margolin
Jonathan Kellerman
John Grisham
Mary Higgins Clark
David Baldacci
Steve Berry
Terry Brooks
Lee Child
Michael Connelley (1) (2)
Jeffery Deaver
Jim Fusilli
Lisa Gardner
Elizabeth George
Lohn Lescroart
M.J. Rose
Jeffrey Deaver
John le Carré
Dennis Lehane (1) Dennis Lehane (2)
Again, tell me what you think. Add links to better interviews as well as interviews of authors I haven’t included. Have fun!
Gordon A Kessler: Author of Thriller, Suspense & Mystery 