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Ask the Author: Douglas Preston

“Greetings to our readers! I'll be answering questions about our new book, CRIMSON SHORE, on an eccentric and unpredictable schedule, so ask away!

With thanks,
Doug” Douglas Preston

Answered Questions (30)

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I see that "Old Bones" is the launching of a series for Nora Kelly, but wasn't she featured in the one-off book "Thunderhead" years ago? Why is "Thunderhead" not Nora Kelly #1, or will it be introduced as an early adventure of Nora Kelly at a later date now that she has her own series? Thank you.
Douglas Preston You are right and Thunderhead is the first Nora Kelly book. Cabinet was the first one to feature her working with Agent Pendergast. If it's written somewhere that Cabinet is the first Nora Kelly book, that would be an error. Where did you read that? Thanks!
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Do you have any tips or words of wisdom for aspiring writers?
Douglas Preston Write every day, seven days a week, for a fixed period of time--and make sure your loved ones and others don't interrupt you.
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Who is your favorite superhero?
Douglas Preston As a kid I loved Superman.
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Hi Douglas, What setting do you like to be in when you're writing? Mark Robichaud
Douglas Preston My quiet and empty office.
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When you write, do you have conversations in your head, first pretending to be one of the characters speaking, then the other? I'm curious about the way you get dialogue going and onto the page. I have been imagining entire "movie scenes" in my head, and trying to write from them - and wondered, do you do the same thing?
Douglas Preston Yes. That's exactly how it works. And I also have the scene in my head too -- it's like watching a movie. I just write it all down as I see and hear it.
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The story Garza tells Gideon about a failed meteorite extraction mission sounds like a something I've read about. Is this something in one of your previous books? If so, which one/
Douglas Preston It is. The story is told in The Ice Limit, a book we published about 12 years ago. Our next Gideon novel, Beyond the Ice Limit, is the sequel to that book.
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I always pictured Pendergast as you do, a young Christopher Walken...until I saw Tom Hiddleston with his natural dark blonde hair color... imagining him with the white hair was not too much of a stretch and he certainly can pull off the accent and the intensity! close?
Douglas Preston All I can say is, I wish you were a movie mogul... I think that would work very nicely!
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When did you realize that you wanted to express your creativity and knowledge through writing? Was it encouraged by others? What creative expressions (e.g. art, dance, media, music) have you tried in the past, present or future to express your creativity through?
Douglas Preston Around 10th grade I started to think about writing, but it wasn't until I was in my twenties that I embarked on a serious writing career. I once wanted to be an artist, too, but realized I didn't have the talent.
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Hi! I really enjoy experiencing your books. They are thrilling! My question, and please pardon me if you have been asked this before, is who do you see in your mind's eye when you write about Agent Pendergast? Do you imagine who would play the part of Pendergast if another of your novels was made into a movie? And if you do, what actor would you like to see portray him?
Douglas Preston Thank you Kathy. Pendergast is a real person to us, more real in some ways than actual people we know. To me he looks like the young Christopher Walken. Walken is too old now but Benedict Cumberpatch might make a good Pendergast, if he can handle the New Orleans accent.
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What do you think of Rene Auberjonois's performance as Pendergast in the audiobooks? Do you, as one of the creators of these characters, have much of a hand in directing audiobook performances?
Douglas Preston We think his reading of Pendergast is excellent. But we have no input.
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Do you know if and/or when your book's/novella's currently only available in ebook form would be put into a printed edition?
Douglas Preston Sorry for the belated answer. All our books, except for two short stories, are in printed editions. You may be referring to books put out under the fake name "Preston Child" in an attempt to deceive our readers into thinking they are books by us. Apparently this is a problem many bestselling authors are having with Amazon's self-publishing program--fake authors trying to pass of their work as being by "Stephen King" etc.
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My brother and I really love the Pendergast series, so I have a question about those books: is there something you would want to go back and change about Pendergast's history and character, that you now have to work with but sort of regret? Or is there something you would like to do with the character and his history that you really can't because of the confines of the world you and Lincoln created?
Douglas Preston I apologize for the late reply! I don't think there is anything we would change. That isn't to say Pendergast is the nicest, most charming person in the world. He has his shortcomings and difficulties and snobberies... He is who he is.
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Can you briefly tell me how you write your novels? From the idea to the outlines. Your preferences? And how you write them, the time? Do you encounter writer's block? And how you conduct your researches too. I want to write my first novel, but I'm nervous. I need an inspiration from you.
Douglas Preston Every writer has a different way of working. Linc and I describe on our website how we typically work together. We do encounter writers' block but the key to that is simply to work through it without ceasing. My main advice to you is to block out a time period every day (7 days a week), shut down your phone etc., tell your loved ones to leave you alone, and write.
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Was the name " Pendergast" taken from Thomas Joseph Pendergast; the early day mover of KC Missouri? (Harry Truman - backer.)
Douglas Preston The short answer is no. The truth is, neither Linc nor I remember where that name came from. The creation of Pendergast happened so quickly that we don't remember all that much about how it happened or which one of us was responsible for what.
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Thanks for the friending. Remember the book tour a few years ago when you guys went all over the Midwest in that big beautiful bus? We had our photo taken in the parking lot of Borders in Toledo, Ohio. That was wonderful. You guys really looked worn out, but I was hoping you would be coming into Ohio and Michigan on another book tour. You have a lot of fans here and it has been a long time. Still reading.
Douglas Preston I wish we could tour more, but in this digital age the book tour is becoming rarer and rarer...
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Is Pendergast based on a real life character or is he 100% original? Do you find it difficult making your characters relatable and realistic? By the way, I love your books. I literally will finish a title in a single sitting. Keep up the good work!
Douglas Preston Pendergast is 100 percent original, although there are bits and pieces of both real and fictional characters that went into creating him. It's hard for us to tease out exactly which pieces, because he's become such a real person to us that we don't really view him as having been created by us.
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What writer does inspire you and is bought blind as soon as new book is published?
Douglas Preston Tom Rob Smith, Lee Child, Nelson DeMille, Dennis Lehane, James Rollins, Michael Connolly.
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how do you explain (to yourself) which books are very well liked and the ones that seem to fall flat? Do you experiment with different ideas to guage the reaction or do you write what you like and leave it at that?
Douglas Preston Why one book is less popular than another is always a difficult and complicated question. Linc and I strive to make each book as good as we can, but with a creative endeavor, sometimes to get everything just right, and sometimes, despite all the effort and energy in the world, it doesn't quite work. We write what we like. If we were to worry about readers' reactions we would go crazy. If you've seen the Amazon reviews, you'll note that what one reader loves another reader hates.
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How do you start out writing, do you sketch out the entire plot and do the research first, or is that something that you tweak along the way as you write?
Douglas Preston I do both. I sketch out the plot ahead of time and I always know how the novel will end, but at the same time I tweak and enlarge and elaborate as I go along. Sometimes I'll change everything, or a character will hijack the story and take it in a different and surprising direction.
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As a writer yourself, how would you react if you ever got a negative review on your books ? Would you change the style of writing or would just ignore them and write as usual ?
Douglas Preston My apologies for the late answer -- I've been on a book tour. I read negative reviews with interest and sometimes amusement. Some negative reviews make good points, and I take them to heart. I like getting feedback from readers and reviewers, even if it is negative. Other reviews are more a public monument to the reviewer's ignorance, illiteracy, stupidity, and rotten taste. Those I find amusing and sometimes even post them on my website. Check out the "Rogue's Gallery" at www.prestonchild.com.
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