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MNHQ

Webchat with Jack Reacher author, Lee Child: Wednesday 16 November, 9-10pm

178 replies

RachelMumsnet · 11/11/2016 17:42

Jack Reacher fans will be thrilled to hear that author Lee Child will be joining us for a webchat on Wednesday (16 November) evening between 9 and 10pm.

Lee penned his first novel (Killing Floor) at the age of 40 after his career at Granada Television came to an end. Since then Jack Reacher has become a global phenomena with 21 books published and two films with Tom Cruise taking the leading role. This month the latest film Never Go Back, is on general release and the 21st book, Night School, has just been published.

Come and chat to Lee and ask him all your burning questions on Wednesday (16 November) between 9 and 10pm. Everyone who joins will be entered into a draw to win a SIGNED copy of Jack Reacher: Night School.

OP posts:
AnnoyedByAlfieBear · 16/11/2016 13:26

We love your books in our house!

How many future plots do you have ideas for at any one time and does if change what you are currently writing?

ChaosTrulyReigns · 16/11/2016 14:54

Absolutely a fan here.

The only author I reread. And gosh do I reread.

Going for the obvious question really: if Jack was a biscuit (NOT cookie, we know your roots Mr Child), what would he be?

I'm thinking no frills, substantial and with a soupçon French influence? Possibly?

Would love to hear your thoughts on this matter.

Tanaqui · 16/11/2016 17:01

Another question (if i may)- what books did you enjoy before you started writing? And who do you enjoy now?

Brew (coffee!) and Cake

Beeziekn33ze · 16/11/2016 17:38

What do you think about your fans? They include elderly women and young men. Who, if anyone, are you aiming for? Or do you write for yourself and, happily, find that we all enjoy your books too?

missmayup · 16/11/2016 18:36

Hi Lee!

I'm a big fan of the first Jack Reacher film, have yet to see the second, (and by the way think Tom Cruise suits the role perfectly! 😝).
I'm currently reading One Shot and felt that it was a pretty significant difference to have James Barr awake throughout the story, as opposed to comatose during the film. I felt that I didn't care much personally wether he was convicted or not during the film as I didn't get much of a sense of his character, but in your book he becomes someone you feel sorry and hopeful for. What motivated you to have such a change for the film?

Thanks for your time! :)

Hannah

coffeetasteslikeshit · 16/11/2016 18:56

I discovered your books last summer and read loads one after another! I also read (bits of) them aloud to my son who loved them too.

I can't really think of a question right now but would like to say that in my head Jack is played by Michael Fassbender.

BIWI · 16/11/2016 19:23

I love your books. When I first discovered them I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. I devoured the ones that were already in print and couldn't wait until the next ones were published.

I'll still buy all of your books, and I've been known to buy them in hardback, which I nevernormally do.

But I really can't forgive you for selling out and supporting the casting of Tom Cruise as Reacher. All your books, right from the first one, emphasise the physical size and strength of Reacher. And Tom Cruise is someone who needs to stand on a box!

I haven't got a question for you about this, because I've heard you justify your decision several times already. I just wanted to register my disappointment with you, like other PP.

bumpetybumpbumpbump · 16/11/2016 19:45

Hi Lee!

My husband is a massive fan. He has never been a reader and last year he discovered audible and he is working his way through all of your books. He has just finished The HArd Way and thinks it's the best yet.

I've just started the Killing Floor ( he made me) and I'm hooked!

Writers are often taught to write what they know. How much of your work is based on real life experience and do you do research with friends and ex colleagues

Also I'm desperate to read your new book but will it spoil all the other ladies if I read it first Grin

hippyhippyshake · 16/11/2016 20:00

One of my old Mumsnet usernames was Jodiegarberjacob because I am totally in love with Jack (Not Tom, mind, I can't get that revolting image out of my head if truth be told) and would love to see Jack settle down with me her. Do you see Jack as a loving partner and father any time in the future or will he always be on the move?

MrsJakeLovell · 16/11/2016 20:09

Who would win in a fight?

Nate Romanowski, Joe Pike, Hawk or Jack Reacher?!

I have to say when I saw the thread title, my response was TC? Really? I see I'm not the only one!

Lanaorana1 · 16/11/2016 20:55

Reacher Creature here - loving you, Hemingway that People Actually Read, thanks forever Mr C. Every sentence you write seem to have its own echo - bliss.

Can you help me with my next job? Yep, that's tonight's big question.

Me: scruffy spinster book editor, Clapham, tiny flat, vast cat. Charity volunteer.

My mate: volunteer too, wrote bestseller by mistake. Horror thriller only for friends then number 1 Amazon for 6 weeks. No 2 on way, motivation = vet's fees.

The Query : Me never done fiction but had better edit this one for friend as he is Proper Author Now. Saves money, dog ancient. So tell us how to work:

  1. What’s the most annoying thing your editor ever did?
  1. Do you talk with your editor all the time or deliver the whole lot in a jiffy bag in dead of night and turn the phone off?

Thanks so much - now returning to the bliss of yr muscly sentences.

LeeChild · 16/11/2016 20:56

Hi I'm here on my favourite internet forum - can't wait for your questions...

cozietoesie · 16/11/2016 21:00

Gosh. And early as well! Smile

LeeChild · 16/11/2016 21:02

@Beeziekn33ze

What do you think about your fans? They include elderly women and young men. Who, if anyone, are you aiming for? Or do you write for yourself and, happily, find that we all enjoy your books too?

The youngest reader i ever met was a nine year old boy and the oldest was a 101 year old woman from Scotland, and with that span i just have to write for myself and i'm completely thrilled if anyone else likes what i'm doing!

LeeChild · 16/11/2016 21:02

@IJustWantABrew

When you realised Tom cruise was taking the role of jack reacher on a scale of 1-10 how disappointed where you, that the casting team had clearly never read the bloody book or even the description of jack reacher?

I was the least worried person about Cruise, because I believe the book is the primary product and the end product and it isn’t in any way superseded by the movie - so I really didn’t care who played Reacher. On one level I thought he didn’t look anything like Reacher, but we needed an actor who could bring the inside of Reacher to the screen and someone who wanted to do it - because that’s a real component of the decision. So I wasn’t disappointed at all, and in my head Reacher is always the same as he always was.

He turned out to be a v nice guy and I’ve enjoyed getting to know him.

wineoclockthanks · 16/11/2016 21:04

Hi. My son and I are huge fans of yours.
Our question is please is Jack Reacher based in a real person?
Thanks

desserttime · 16/11/2016 21:04

Hi Lee,

(SPOLIER ALERT )

do you regret killing off Jack's brother (and so his only family!) in the first book?!!

Been desperate to ask this question since getting into the Reacher books,
thank you!!

LeeChild · 16/11/2016 21:04

@bumpetybumpbumpbump

Hi Lee!

My husband is a massive fan. He has never been a reader and last year he discovered audible and he is working his way through all of your books. He has just finished The HArd Way and thinks it's the best yet.

I've just started the Killing Floor ( he made me) and I'm hooked!

Writers are often taught to write what they know. How much of your work is based on real life experience and do you do research with friends and ex colleagues

Also I'm desperate to read your new book but will it spoil all the other ladies if I read it first Grin

i think 'write what you know' is really bad advice and i don't follow it. the best advice is to write what you feel - so you take a feeling of happiness, fear or terror, and you blow it up for enormous proportions for the book. i never discuss it with anyone else - it's personal to me until the reader sees it.

LeeChild · 16/11/2016 21:06

@Powaqa

ooh wonderful. I love the Jack Reacher books. I cant watch the film, it's bad enough I have to mentally erase the TC image when I read them now

My question is wrt your target audience. Do more women then men read them and if so why do you think that is?

More women read everything than men, so I’m sure the majority of my audience is female but I probably get more than my share. Somewhere else on the discussion Saffronwblue says her DH says women see Jack Reacher books as a kind of ‘no domestic duties porn’ and I agree. I’ve come to believe it’s true and women readers identify strongly with Reacher –partly because they want to be him with no responsibilities and no entanglements.

LeeChild · 16/11/2016 21:06

@hippyhippyshake

One of my old Mumsnet usernames was Jodiegarberjacob because I am totally in love with Jack (Not Tom, mind, I can't get that revolting image out of my head if truth be told) and would love to see Jack settle down with me her. Do you see Jack as a loving partner and father any time in the future or will he always be on the move?

I think he would love to be a loving partner and father. Certainly he enjoys his solitude but he's worried about ending up lonely. The problem is the kind of intelligent woman he falls for is too intelligent to see a future with him. It's fun for a few days but the rest of their lives together would be awful. So he's perpetually on a kind of hunt for the right woman - maybe you're her?

wineoclockthanks · 16/11/2016 21:07

I also wanted to say that my son is 14 and wasn't a great reader until he started reading your books. He's read them all now and it's sparked his reading enthusiasm again, and for that I really thank you.

LeeChild · 16/11/2016 21:07

@desserttime

Hi Lee,

(SPOLIER ALERT )

do you regret killing off Jack's brother (and so his only family!) in the first book?!!

Been desperate to ask this question since getting into the Reacher books,
thank you!!

I don't regret it because it was necessary for that loner/drifter character to have no one in the world - it wouldn't have worked if he had a mother or a brother still alive. as a writer i agree that Joe was a very interesting character but his ghostly presence in some of the books works just as well as him being alive.

LeeChild · 16/11/2016 21:07

@MrsJakeLovell

Who would win in a fight?

Nate Romanowski, Joe Pike, Hawk or Jack Reacher?!

I have to say when I saw the thread title, my response was TC? Really? I see I'm not the only one!

Jack Reacher would beat the other three with one hand behind his back and his head in a bag.

LeeChild · 16/11/2016 21:08

@MycatsaPirate

I adore your books. I love Jack Reacher although at times he's pretty grumpy. How many hours/days a week do you spend writing? (and when you take a break, do you have black coffee like Jack? And what biscuit do you like with it?) I've read two of your books while recovering from my surgery and I'm hoping to get Night School as a Christmas Present from you

I work maybe 6 hours a day, maybe 4 days a week during the writing season. When I take a break I drink black coffee - in huge quantities! My record is 36 mugs a day, and if I have a biscuit I call it a cookie, and it’s always an oatmeal raisin.

LeeChild · 16/11/2016 21:08

@wineoclockthanks

I also wanted to say that my son is 14 and wasn't a great reader until he started reading your books. He's read them all now and it's sparked his reading enthusiasm again, and for that I really thank you.

That's great - really happy about that and i hope he carries on to a lifetime of reading!