James Patterson

And I was on the Jersey Turnpike or one of the roads going north. And it was like five mile an hour traffic. It was hideous. And I'm on that road and I don't want to go back to New York anyway. It's a beautiful day. I just left the beach and it's like one o'clock in the afternoon or something. And on the other side of the road, like about every 15 seconds, a car went by. Whoosh. Another 10.

And I was on the Jersey Turnpike or one of the roads going north. And it was like five mile an hour traffic. It was hideous. And I'm on that road and I don't want to go back to New York anyway. It's a beautiful day. I just left the beach and it's like one o'clock in the afternoon or something. And on the other side of the road, like about every 15 seconds, a car went by. Whoosh. Another 10.

Whoosh. And I watched this for about an hour or so. And here was this object lesson. And it occurred to me that I'm on the wrong damn side of the highway. And my whole life is on the wrong side of the highway. And I got to get on the other side, not the side that's going into New York at five miles an hour to someplace that I don't want to go to.

Whoosh. And I watched this for about an hour or so. And here was this object lesson. And it occurred to me that I'm on the wrong damn side of the highway. And my whole life is on the wrong side of the highway. And I got to get on the other side, not the side that's going into New York at five miles an hour to someplace that I don't want to go to.

Whoosh. And I watched this for about an hour or so. And here was this object lesson. And it occurred to me that I'm on the wrong damn side of the highway. And my whole life is on the wrong side of the highway. And I got to get on the other side, not the side that's going into New York at five miles an hour to someplace that I don't want to go to.

The other side where cars are going at whatever speed they want to go and they're going where they want to go. And that's when I decided. And within a week, I told the guy that I worked for, I said, look, I'm going to give you time to replace me, even though I'm irreplaceable. But I'm gone. You want more money?

The other side where cars are going at whatever speed they want to go and they're going where they want to go. And that's when I decided. And within a week, I told the guy that I worked for, I said, look, I'm going to give you time to replace me, even though I'm irreplaceable. But I'm gone. You want more money?

The other side where cars are going at whatever speed they want to go and they're going where they want to go. And that's when I decided. And within a week, I told the guy that I worked for, I said, look, I'm going to give you time to replace me, even though I'm irreplaceable. But I'm gone. You want more money?

You're right. But I think he got it. And he did let me go. He's still a good friend, which is nice.

You're right. But I think he got it. And he did let me go. He's still a good friend, which is nice.

You're right. But I think he got it. And he did let me go. He's still a good friend, which is nice.

No, I don't think I ever had it big time. But the first book that I wrote, Thomas Barham, that was turned down by, I don't know, 31 publishers. Then, like, a year finally picks up, and it wins an Edgar. And I was working at J. Walter in advertising. I got this call from this woman. She said, this is a mystery writer who's American.

No, I don't think I ever had it big time. But the first book that I wrote, Thomas Barham, that was turned down by, I don't know, 31 publishers. Then, like, a year finally picks up, and it wins an Edgar. And I was working at J. Walter in advertising. I got this call from this woman. She said, this is a mystery writer who's American.

No, I don't think I ever had it big time. But the first book that I wrote, Thomas Barham, that was turned down by, I don't know, 31 publishers. Then, like, a year finally picks up, and it wins an Edgar. And I was working at J. Walter in advertising. I got this call from this woman. She said, this is a mystery writer who's American.

Your first book has been nominated for an Edgar in the Best First Mystery. And I said, oh, my God, that's really great. When's the date? And she told me, I said, I can't go. I don't know why, but I said, I can't go. And she said, no, no, no, no. You've been nominated. I said, I know I heard you, but I can't go. And she said, no, you have to go. You won. I said, OK, well, I'm going to go somehow.

Your first book has been nominated for an Edgar in the Best First Mystery. And I said, oh, my God, that's really great. When's the date? And she told me, I said, I can't go. I don't know why, but I said, I can't go. And she said, no, no, no, no. You've been nominated. I said, I know I heard you, but I can't go. And she said, no, you have to go. You won. I said, OK, well, I'm going to go somehow.

Your first book has been nominated for an Edgar in the Best First Mystery. And I said, oh, my God, that's really great. When's the date? And she told me, I said, I can't go. I don't know why, but I said, I can't go. And she said, no, no, no, no. You've been nominated. I said, I know I heard you, but I can't go. And she said, no, you have to go. You won. I said, OK, well, I'm going to go somehow.

But the weird thing was, so I get there. I brought my parents. This is so cool. I'm 26 years old, 27 maybe. And I still I sat in the audience. I go, maybe she lied to me just to get me there.

But the weird thing was, so I get there. I brought my parents. This is so cool. I'm 26 years old, 27 maybe. And I still I sat in the audience. I go, maybe she lied to me just to get me there.

But the weird thing was, so I get there. I brought my parents. This is so cool. I'm 26 years old, 27 maybe. And I still I sat in the audience. I go, maybe she lied to me just to get me there.