On Monday, January 28th at 10 p.m. ET, bestselling crime fiction writer Lee Child will reveal his favorite true crime story on Tru TV's series "Murder By The Book." Find out how police uncovered a troubled love triangle, a custody battle over an illegitimate child, and a possible murder-for-hire plot involving one of Akron's most powerful families.
In the meantime, Gather is interviewing Mr. Child using your questions. If there is something you would like to ask this talented author about his writing, books, or the Tru TV series, please leave a question in the comment thread below and I will do my best to pass it along. He is a fantastic writer folks, I'm sure you have some questions for him! I know I do!
LEE CHILD
Lee Child is the author of eleven Jack Reacher thrillers, including the New York Times bestsellers PERSUADER, THE ENEMY, ONE SHOT, THE HARD WAY and most recently, BAD LUCK AND TROUBLE. He was born in 1954 in Coventry, England, and after part-time work in the theater, he joined Granada Television in Manchester for an eighteen-year career as a presentation director.
Always a voracious reader, he then wrote KILLING FLOOR, the first in the Jack Reacher series. KILLING FLOOR won both the Anthony and the Barry Awards for Best First Mystery, became a critical success and launched the series which only continues to grow in popularity. Since then, Child's novels have become top 5 New York Times bestsellers, with film rights optioned by Paramount Pictures. Foreign rights in the Jack Reacher series have been sold in thirty-nine territories, and there are more than 14 million copies in print of his novels worldwide. Child has dual residencies ...an apartment in Manhattan, and a country house in the south of France, plus whatever airplane cabin he happens to be in while traveling between the two.
He's currently working on his 12th Jack Reacher novel, NOTHING TO LOSE, which will be published by Delacorte Press in summer 2008.
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Comments: 39
I have found that Someone in a murderers life seems to know, but does not tell, until AFTER the person is caught.
Love your books, thanks for joining us on Gather!
My question: Why do convicted murderers decline to tell where the bodies are stored?
MY question is a simple one:
We all know that Jack does not blink when he kills someone who is inherently evil nor does he show any emotion when someone "gets what they deserve", then how can he have such a strong passionate side? At times I wonder if he shuts himself off and goes into autopilot when he kills...is that close to what makes Jack tick or am I way off base? AND which side the passionate side or the cold hearted killer is the REAL Jack?
"Hard Way" is sitting on the shelf now, trying to tempt me away from writing my book review. I've loaned all my other Lee Child books to a young friend who has just discovered them and is reading through them voraciously. He and I agree that JACK REACHER IS THE MAN!! He is the coolest, toughest, never misses a shot and sounds like a major hunk, too. It cracked me up reading that even his mom called him Reacher instead of Jack.
Book signing? Susan, how close to Michigan are you?
I would like to ask Lee Child why Jack Reacher refuses to keep anything. He throws away clothing, doesn't have a car, didn't want the house and seems to have no attachments.
I am so excited! Also, I think Jan's question - above- is excellent :)
As a writer, I am always interested in learning more about writers and their particular journeys towards creating books. So I'd like to know a bit about that, from the earliest memories he has of writing to the person or people who most encouraged or inspired him along the way (teachers, family, other writers).
Finally (well, for now), I'd be interested in knowing any unusual or specific tips he has found to break writer's block. For instance (and I am NOT suggesting Mr. Child use this method), I found that writing an obituary of a character helped me create and flesh out that particular character more clearly - once - and no, the character did not die in my story.
Are there any tips Mr Child has for writers, something that might not be obvious?
Thanks so much for this opportunity to hear from this writer!
My question: Is he married? :)
Thanks for posting this to...
The Book Review
Media Bytes Week 11
My question is about expressing opinions in your writing. I'm wondering if your opinions and Reacher's are always the same. If they're not, is it at all difficult for you to write Reacher with a point of view that you don't necessarily subscribe to?
Tell me who you feel is the most deserving villian Reacher has made pay the ultimate price. My feeling is the character in "Tripwire'. He was a very evil man. Your thoughts?
Tips for new readers to Lee Child, read any book in any order and then you will be breaking down doors to your local bookstore. Reacher is a complex and condradictory character. Thanks Lee !
Secondly, if everyone here enjoys Lee's books, come on over to his website and join all the other Reacher Creatures in discussions long and short about all things Reacher.
So my question - Lee, if you had one 'do-over' for either a character or story line, what/who would it be and why?
Has your editor ever recommended you change a major plot point to make a story more "acceptable" to mainstream readers and what was your response? Heh.
I know that many people (me included) enjoyed Frances Neagley's return in 'Bad Luck and Trouble' and Reacher interacting with people he knew well provided insight into his personality. Also the fate of some of his old MP team gives re-reading 'The Enemy' an added perspective.
Have you ever considered bringing back other characters from previous books? Some of them are especially well drawn, Finlay and Alice Aaron spring to mind but there are plenty of others. I know that part of Reacher's charm is his forward motion but there might be some interesting dynamics.
Your books are an addiction.
A very good one.
And no guilt whatsoever.
Jack Reacher, it would seem, is the one fixed point in a changing
world. I think that's his basic attraction for me....Oh and the whole
'knight in shining armor' routine, of course.
One thing I've always wondered about, though.
When necessary, how does Reacher manage to blend into the crowd
so easily? He is, after all, six foot five. (Or thereabouts.)
I mean, hard to blend at that height. And since he is always in tip-top
physical shape, I'm assuming he'd look intimidating as hell.
Hard to picture him fading into the background on ANY occasion.
So, are you always aware of Reacher's physical presence when
creating a scene around him? I mean, he is rather imposing.
Has there ever been a moment when you've had to stop and think,
no, wait, he's too tall or too muscular or too physical to carry
this off? IS there such a thing? Is it Reacher's remarkable brain that saves
him from being just another robotic thriller hero? Or, despite
appearances, is it his heart?
He sounds like the perfect alter ego, do you ever find yourself feeling a bit schizophrenic? And I must agree with other posts, I never find Reacher lacking heart. It may come across as just doing his duty (whatever that be at the time), but he never goes looking for a fight and he is always on the side of justice. I think (for me anyway) that is why he is sooo popular with all the ladies and the men. The men want to be him and the women just want him!!
Great job creating such a magnanimous character.
I've noticed, and been delighted, that one of Reacher's 'lady friends' had no name at all and one had only a last name. This is rather unusual, and I'm wondering if that is why you did it? Or was there another reason?
I have rather an unusual name, don't you think?
For someone not raised in the U.S., you seem to have grasped the feeling of the times in America and it's people pretty doggone good. From things you have written in your books, I am sure you do some research for your books, but exactly how do you come to understand "us" so well? IS America really as violent as you sometimes portray it?
Love your books!! Love Reacher... in a totally male bonding type of way, of course!!! :)
I've been playing catch up with your books since meeting you a few years ago and stumbled out of order by reading book 8 second....although I'm glad I did since it's pretty much a prequel (and I remember you mentioning that). So, my question is, what made you decide to write the prequel eight books in?
Btw, you've become a bit of a muse for me....aside from really enjoying your work, I'm learning quite a bit.
Take care!
Terri
It's Judi from L.A.! I usually get to talk to Maggi but I know she passes on mail to you. Having read with relish all 11 Reacher books, I come to the same questiion I've asked before. Why is Reacher so fearful of any permenent connection with one of his many women? In the age we live in, Reacher's casual sex, seems to be almost endorsed by you as the way a man should act. You surely know your readers are not just the 20-death set, but college kids and younger ones too. So his casual flings, seem to be saying "it's OK to love em and leave em". The pregnancy rate of young unmarried teens and early 20s women is sky rocketing. Lots of it has to do with movie stars who defy conventional conventions, but they have the where-with-all to provide for a child. What about the majority of women that don't?
Trust me, I'm hardly a moralist, I'm a modern, pro-choice, liberal, divorced mom of 3 grown kids. I'm careful though about who I get intimate with and certainly would not just hop in the sack with some guy whose only posession is a toothbrush!!
I think Reacher has love to give, and would love to find someone who gave back, but you don't want to paint him that way, so he goes on his merry way.
Enough of that rant. I hope you'll be at the LA Times Festival of Books at UCLA this year. It's always a great event when you're around.
Here's an idea for Reacher. Set a book during an election year, with a big field of candidates in both parties and some behind the scenes skull duggery by 2 nasty guys, one from each party, trying to sway the final vote by what ever means, so their candidate wins. Hmm, maybe that scenario has already been done, like in 2000:-( or is being done now. Hah, hah.
Take care and I'll look for you on Murder by the Book, which I always watch.
Judi
You mentioned a year or more ago that some Hollywood outfit was interested in turning Reacher into a movie, and asked some of us for ideas on who should play him. Remember that? So---we're waiting, friend! Of course, it's gotta be done right, otherwise don't bother. Where does that stand?
web hosting reviews Team..
It's probably way too late to post a comment or question but I have only in the past two months become a fan of Lee Child's books. I do have a question. Why is that throughout his books he uses comments such as "Hell are you doing?" or "Hell did you say?" instead of "What the hell are you doing?" or "What the hell did you say?". I noticed this right away and he uses the same phraseology through the three books that I have read so far.
I must say that I truly like the character Jack Reacher. He is the person I would like to be. A drifter with money. I have somewhat played that role at times in my life but it seemed like the money always ran out. Evidently Jack has unlimited resources and being single he can sort of do as he pleases.
Great books.