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

[RachelMumsnet]

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.

@regularbutpanickingabit

Love his books! OK, my question... Do you ever have a new character knocking in your head when you are trying to write a book? A character that doesn't fit with your current story but is really insistent on being written? How do you deal with that?

There are two halves to writing. The second half is the business end of typing it out, getting it published, promoting and selling it. The first half is daydreaming it - I'm happy to daydream any kind of new character and there are lots of them, but my job is to only publish the Reacher books. It's a bit like saying ‘do you ever wish you had a different kid?’ which you probably do, but you’re stuck with the one you've got.

the writing high explains some of the purple patches and the weighing up of probabilities!

What decision making lies behind whether you're going to set a story in the first or third person? Do you find yourself more immersed in the process if you're writing in the first person?

@MairyHoles

Hi Lee, I think one of my favourite parts of your writing is understanding Reacher's reasoning and his weighing up of probabilities before he acts. I find it really specific and interesting and it's a large part of Reacher's appeal. Do you have a team of people who you get advice from about, for example, how likely it is that a shot can be made from a certain distance? Or do you test these things yourself? Or, please no, are they just made up?

I don't have a team of people because i'm too impatient to wait for a reply, so i usually do it out of general knowledge or previous reading. For a technical thing like that, it's never made up because somebody will always find you out.

Hello
My question wpukd be

If you were not a writer, what would you do?

@JaneAustinAllegro

the writing high explains some of the purple patches and the weighing up of probabilities!

What decision making lies behind whether you're going to set a story in the first or third person? Do you find yourself more immersed in the process if you're writing in the first person?

I'm definitely more immersed when writing in the first person which would always be my preference but most of the time i sense that the plot is going to need an alternative point of view, what the old westerns would call 'meanwhile back at the ranch'. So for practical purposes, most books have to be in the third person.

@taytopotato

Hello My question wpukd be

If you were not a writer, what would you do?

Be on the dole.

If Lionel S could write a sentence as a short as yours, she'd conquer the world. She's beyond good, but it's just a touch...long.

When you are face down in a cracking scene, does Mrs Child ever get a mood on and bark at you to empty the trash? Do you share chores?

Any more for any more? Lee started early as there were so many advance questions so we'll give you another couple of minutes and then wrap up. Any more burning questions that Lee hasn't answered?

Going for the treble here! What type of books would Reacher read (if he stayed still long enough to read)?
Who would his favourite author be? You're not allowed to say you!

Hang on....

Um, yes please: Might Mr Child want to give a word of advice to my accidental-bestseller charity worker friend? What I mean is, would Mr C take on an editor who tried hard but had never done fiction before? Or tell me to get lost?

Do you plan one book at a time or are you thinking ahead to the next book as you're writing the first one?

@trendytoes

Going for the treble here! What type of books would Reacher read (if he stayed still long enough to read)? Who would his favourite author be? You're not allowed to say you!

Reacher's choices are limited by what he finds left behind on the seat of a bus or in a hotel room - so he'll read anything. In Make Me he gave his literary analysis: he said there's two sorts of books - either shit happens or it doesn't!

@Lanaorana1

Um, yes please: Might Mr Child want to give a word of advice to my accidental-bestseller charity worker friend? What I mean is, would Mr C take on an editor who tried hard but had never done fiction before? Or tell me to get lost?

I don't see why he would worry that he hadn't done fiction before - good editors are very versatile.

What does Mr. Reacher think of President elect Mr Trump?

Hi Lee. My husband, Mum, sister and I all love your books. My Dad read a few too but when he realised they were fiction he gave up

Look forward to reading back over more of your answers. No question, just thanks for the great reads

@wineoclockthanks

Do you plan one book at a time or are you thinking ahead to the next book as you're writing the first one?

The best I can do is plan one sentence at a time!

THANKS A MILLION YOU BRILLIANT MAN :)

Thanks to everybody who reads my books - I really appreciate it and thanks for letting me join your community tonight. Bye!

If Killing Floor was made into a film, would you want it to be presented as a flashback and would you incorporate some of the novellas (ie second son) into it to give a bit more family background?

Darn, missed the cut off. Oh, well. Thank you again for your books Lee!

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Thank you!
MNHQ

Argh yes!!

Have you taken any inspiration form Ian Fleming?

Thank you!!!