James Patterson will be the most prolific creator of our time, however don’t anticipate him to rattle off his stats like a sports activities announcer.
In a brand new sit-down with Graham Bensinger, the king of thrillers received actual about his record-breaking profession, future tasks with some very well-known names (trace: MrBeast and J.J. Abrams!), and why he doesn’t care if you happen to assume James Patterson is a literary “stylist” as a result of he’s in it for the story.
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James Patterson Has ‘No Thought’ How Many Bestsellers He’s Had
Regardless of holding the crown for probably the most #1 New York Instances bestsellers in historical past, Patterson claims he’s not preserving rating.
As for the viral stat that 6% of all hardcover novels offered within the U.S. are written by him?
“No, that’s loopy. No. The writer makes stuff up. Don’t imagine that,” Patterson laughed.
However in relation to one other jaw-dropping declare, that his books have outsold Stephen King, John Grisham, and Dan Brown mixed lately?
“That’s true,” he confirmed.
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Patterson Stuns With Over 100 Bestsellers
James Patterson isn’t only a bestselling creator. He’s the bestseller record.
The literary machine has formally printed over 200 books, and greater than 100 of them have dominated the New York Instances bestseller record. The person’s mainly received a everlasting parking spot on the prime.
If that wasn’t wild sufficient, James Patterson holds the Guinness World File for probably the most #1 New York Instances bestsellers by a single creator with a jaw-dropping 67 titles. That’s greater than some folks have learn of their total lives.
And he’s not slowing down. The publishing powerhouse has offered over 425 million copies of his books across the globe. From thrillers to younger grownup fiction, Patterson’s mastered each style he touches, and often co-writes half of them with a pace that might make your head spin.
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A few of his greatest hits embody the “Alex Cross” sequence, which has offered over 81 million copies, the “Ladies’s Homicide Membership,” “Most Journey,” and “Non-public.”
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James Patterson x MrBeast? Imagine It
James Patterson’s subsequent wave of tasks reads extra like a blockbuster movie slate than a ebook record. He revealed he’s teaming up with YouTube megastar MrBeast (aka Jimmy Donaldson) on what might be a record-breaker.
“He desires it to be the bestselling novel within the final 50 years,” Patterson stated. “And I wouldn’t wager in opposition to him. It’s a very good story. It comes out of what he does, however then takes it farther.”
Not solely might the ebook herald main numbers, however it may also get Gen Z studying once more. “Yeah. That’d be good,” Patterson added with a smile.
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He’s Acquired J.J. Abrams And… Hitler?
Patterson additionally simply offered a venture to J.J. Abrams’ manufacturing firm, Unhealthy Robotic, and it’s a significant departure from his regular crime thrillers.
“That is the Nazi ebook I talked about,” he stated. “What I like about it’s it’s so uncommon for me to do a historic, as a result of Hitler was accused of homicide within the thirties in Munich. And it’s a extremely cool story, which hasn’t actually been advised.”
James Patterson Admits ‘You Don’t Have To Be A Nice Author…’

Whereas James Patterson has lengthy confronted criticism for his simple prose, he’s not pretending to be the following Hemingway. For him, it’s all in regards to the narrative.
“For those who inform a very good story, you don’t essentially should be a fantastic author,” he defined. “Freida [McFadden], no matter, not a fantastic author, however actually good tales. Lots of my stuff, Grisham most likely, I don’t imply to demean John, however let’s say not a fantastic stylist. However good tales.”
In different phrases, he says to avoid wasting the literary snobbery, the man has 400 million books offered for a purpose.
So, whether or not he’s writing courtroom dramas, YouTube-fueled adventures, or uncovering Hitler’s forgotten secrets and techniques, it is cleat that James Patterson isn’t simply telling tales, he’s rewriting the rulebook.