Behind the Pages with The Traveling Sisters discussion

She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be is a brilliant one and I am excited J.D. Barker will be joining us May 14 @ 11:00 am EST to answer our questions!! I am thinking it's going to be a fun one!!!

Brenda -Traveling Sister wrote: "She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be is a brilliant one and I am excited J.D. Barker will be joining us May 14 @ 11:00 am EST to answer our questions!! I am thinking it'..."

Can't wait for this! J.D. has quickly become a favorite of mine.

Kelli wrote: "Brenda -Traveling Sister wrote: Can't wait for this! J.D. has quickly become a favorite of mine.

All it took was one book and he's a favorite of mine, too 😁

Totally agree with all of these comments. I loved this book and what a great opportunity. I will add this to the calendar of my stay at home life! Lol.

Can’t wait for this!

I can't wait!!!!!! I'm going to jump in with some questions!

Thank you so much for joining J.D. This is such a treat!

I love the originality of your books and She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be was no exception. For me, this book was a little bit of everything: mystery, coming of age, love story, obsession, suspense, etc. Can you tell us how this book came out? How did you come up with it? Was it intentional that this book would have so many things (coming of age, suspense, etc), or did they just come about as you wrote?

There are several quotes from Great Expectations in the book. I love how that book influenced this one. Is Great Expectations a favorite book of yours? I haven't read that book since high school, , this book has me wanting to read Great Expectations again!

You have also collaborated with other authors to write Dracul and The Coast-to-Coast Murders I loved both especially Dracul, can you tell us how those collaborations came about and what it was like to collaborate on those books?

Are there any authors that you would like to write with in the future?

On average how long does it take you to write a book?

I tend to read your books fast, is it ever frustrating to you as an author to write a book, have it take months (or longer) of your life, to have a reader, sit down and read it in one day?

Are you working on anything currently?

Who are your literary influences?

When you begin writing your books, do you know who is going to live and who is going to die? You had me grabbing my tissues with one death in She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be. Is it ever hard for you to kill off a character?

Do you have a preference between writing stand-alone novels or books in a series?

How do your balance writing and family life?

J.D. Barker - I am so excited to have you here! She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be is an absolute favorite of mine! That book blew me away! I have so many questions!! Thank you so much for coming and talking with us! I am a big fan! :)

I loved the literary references to Great Expectations! As a fan of classical literature, I found this to be so original and brilliant! Is Dickens your favorite classical author? What classical authors do you like to read? What authors would you say have influenced your writing the most?

Your characters in this novel were superbly done. They felt real to me and I had a real emotional connection to them. How do you think you accomplish this? Are their personalities inspired by people you know?

This book reminded me a lot of Stephen King in that regard. He is a favorite of mine and I always enjoy and bond with his characters. Do you read Stephen King?

This story was so unique, where did you find the inspiration?

When writing do you outline your story from start to finish, or are you led by the characters?

Finally, have you considered writing a sequel to She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be? I just can't let the characters go!

Thank you so very much for taking the time to answer our questions! Looking forward to any books you put out in the future! I plan to read every single one!

Like what has been said above, I can't let the characters go. This story ended with so much pointing towards a sequel, IMO 😁 Do you have plans for a sequel? Even if you don't have plans for a sequel, when you finished this book, did you have a vision of the future for Jack and his family?

How different is it to write a book on your own compared to collaborating? Does a collaboration still feel like it's "your" book? I know it could be different for each book and each author you collaborate with but how do you divide things up? Do you have to share characters?

Thank you so much for joining us J.D! I enjoyed your 4MK series and found your killers fascinating, dark and twisted.

As an author what do you feel makes a serial killer fascinating and what do you think readers like to keep them turning the pages? Is this something you think about as you are creating your characters or do you feel your characters are guiding you?

The questions above are fantastic. I also, found myself reading this book much faster than expected. I didn't know the actual physical length until after I had read it. Your writing reminded me of one of the Stephen King fast-paced but long novels. Do you feel like your writing has been influenced by his?
I also love the way there was something for everyone in this. You wrote a thriller but there is romance, magical systems, literary fiction, family saga vibes throughout. How did you approach this book? Did you have an initial idea and then let it take off or was it more planned than that?
Thanks for being willing to do this and thank you for the early copy of your next book! I'm ready to read them all!

Thank you again J.D., for joining us and answering questions. My question is about the future and your upcoming works.

I was fortunate to get a copy of "The Coast-to-Coast Murders", which was absolutely fabulous. I'm already feeling needy for another J.D. novel! Do you have anything in the works that you could tell us about or share? Best Regards!

You have a few characters in She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be and each developed so well. How we felt about them changed as their own true character was slowing revealed by the choices they made. You put the characters under a bit of pressure here that added some great tension and suspense to the story. We enjoyed discussing their actions that reveal who they really were and how different they were from what they seemed at first. This made these unusual characters feel very real to us. Pretty much you created characters we wanted to talk about.

How do you feel you were able to create that depth to your characters, their relationships and capturing their voices? Do you feel that your characters speak to you or do capture their voices in a different way?

Did you have a character you enjoyed writing more than the others and why? Maybe one that you felt was a bit more fun to create?

What would you like your readers to get from your books? Is there anything you would like us to know?

Do you have any questions you would like to ask readers or wish they would ask you?

Brenda -Traveling Sister wrote: "She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be is a brilliant one and I am excited J.D. Barker will be joining us May 14 @ 11:00 am EST to answer our questions!! I am thinking it'..."

Hi all!

Kelli wrote: "Brenda -Traveling Sister wrote: "She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be is a brilliant one and I am excited J.D. Barker will be joining us May 14 @ 11:00 am EST to answer ..." Well, thank you!

marilyn wrote: "Kelli wrote: "Brenda -Traveling Sister wrote: Can't wait for this! J.D. has quickly become a favorite of mine.

All it took was one book and he's a favorite of mine, too 😁" Thank you!

Debra wrote: "Thank you so much for joining J.D. This is such a treat!

I love the originality of your books and She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be was no exception. For me, this bo..."

Great Expectations has always been a favorite of mine and when I had the initial idea for this book, I knew I wanted to mix them together. As far as how this one came along, once I had the opening paragraph (below) I just let it rip. I don't plan or outline in advance, I let the characters tell me the story.

OPENING:
Her name was Stella and I loved her from the first moment I saw her. Even after watching her kill a man who looked a lot like me, I couldn’t help but love her.
I didn’t know she had killed him, not at that time, I couldn’t possibly know, I only watched them kiss, but that moment spelled his end as surely as water runs downhill.
We would hide the body together, amid her apologies for what she had done.
Then she would be gone, disappearing into the night.
And I could do nothing else but follow, my heart filled with ache, her scent pulling me so.
—Jack Thatch | 22 Years Old

When you start writing, do you know how the book is going to end?

Do you have a set writing routine?

Debra wrote: "You have also collaborated with other authors to write Dracul and The Coast-to-Coast Murders I loved both especially Dracul, can you tell us how those collaborations..."

The Stoker family read my first book (Forsaken) and reached out. Apparently they'd been trying to find someone to write a prequel to DRACULA for some time (using Bram's original notes) and thought I'd be a good fit. I had a lot of fun with that one. With Patterson, he read The Fourth Monkey and liked it enough to provide a blurb. Once we started talking, we both knew we needed to work together on something.

Debra wrote: "On average how long does it take you to write a book?

I tend to read your books fast, is it ever frustrating to you as an author to write a book, have it take months (or longer) of your life, to h..."

It takes me about three months to write a draft, then a little longer to clean it up. I absolutely love it when a reader burns through it quickly. It means I did something right.

Debra wrote: "When you begin writing your books, do you know who is going to live and who is going to die? You had me grabbing my tissues with one death in [book:She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be|..."

Nope. I learn this as I go along. It's always difficult. In this novel in particular, the events at the diner were tough. That's where the story went, though. Who am I to argue?

Debra wrote: "Do you have a preference between writing stand-alone novels or books in a series?"

I don't have a preference. It is hard to close out a standalone, though, knowing I won't be working with those characters again.

Debra wrote: "How do your balance writing and family life?"

I have a very understanding wife. I couldn't do this without her. She and our daughter always come first. When I walk out my office every day, I belong to them.

marilyn wrote: "Like what has been said above, I can't let the characters go. This story ended with so much pointing towards a sequel, IMO 😁 Do you have plans for a sequel? Even if you don't have plans for a seque..."

I'm sure Jack and the family are doing well but I have no plans to revisit them in a sequel at this time. Too many other books to write!

marilyn wrote: "How different is it to write a book on your own compared to collaborating? Does a collaboration still feel like it's "your" book? I know it could be different for each book and each author you coll..."

It depends largely on the collaborator. With DRACUL, Dacre Stoker didn't do any of the writing, he only provided the research. Patterson has been very hand's on. Like all relationships, writing with others is about compromise. You focus on each other's strengths and let it all balance out.

Kelli wrote: "Thank you again J.D., for joining us and answering questions. My question is about the future and your upcoming works.

I was fortunate to get a copy of "The Coast-to-Coast Murders", which was abs..."

I've got a new book going out to publishers next week. Can't provide any details yet. You can probably expect something new out of me about every six months or so :)

Brenda -Traveling Sister wrote: "You have a few characters in She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be and each developed so well. How we felt about them changed as their own true character was slowing revealed by the choi..."

Before I start any book, I always work out detailed character sketches. I knew as well as I know my best friends. I think that's key. If an author doesn't do it, the characters don't feel real and nobody is invested in what happens to them.

Brenda -Traveling Sister wrote: "Did you have a character you enjoyed writing more than the others and why? Maybe one that you felt was a bit more fun to create?"

Characters are like children, you love them all equally. That said, I miss Sam Porter and hope to revisit him at some point.

Brenda -Traveling Sister wrote: "What would you like your readers to get from your books? Is there anything you would like us to know?"

I write literary popcorn. I just want to offer readers a little bit of an escape.

Brenda -Traveling Sister wrote: "Do you have any questions you would like to ask readers or wish they would ask you?"

Naw, this has been great. I'll keep an eye on the board and try to answer others if they post. Now I need to get back to writing or my agent will call and yell at me!

Debra wrote: "When you start writing, do you know how the book is going to end?

Do you have a set writing routine?"

I usually know how I'd like a book to end but it doesn't typically go that way.

I've got my butt in my chair every day at 7am and I write until around noon, then I spend the afternoon working on the business side of things. On any given day, I'm working from 7am until around 3pm. I head out for a five mile run after that, then the rest of the day goes to my family.

Thank you for joining us J.D. I hope your agent doesn't yell!!

I look forward to reading your future work!!

Thank you so much for joining us and answering our questions! I look forward to your next book!!!

Just a comment: I think the longer length of this book served your characters and your story well. It allowed us to really get to know the characters and care about them. Thank you for this long story. Even though I didn't want to leave the characters I loved, I did feel good about leaving them, because we got to know them so well.

J.D. wrote: "Brenda -Traveling Sister wrote: "She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be is a brilliant one and I am excited J.D. Barker will be joining us May 14 @ 11:00 am EST to answer ..."

Hi :-)

I am so happy to read all of this right now. I was working this morning and missed the live. Dracul is an absolute favorite and am thankful you wrote that, as I enjoyed it immensely. I have Coast to Coast to read as well and it would be a real treat for me to start it soon if I can. I think you are a brilliant writer and I am quite happy to have discovered that. Broken Wing was outstanding. I am a bit disappointed there won't be a sequel. But, I understand, and just keep turning out plenty for us to read.

Thank you for sharing your process. I look forward to any and all future books.