Andrew Gross NY Times Best Selling Author and Karinna Kittles-Karsten on the AP

By Judyth Piazza CEO (Editor)

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Andrew Gross

OKAY, SO I WASN`T ALWAYS A THRILLER WRITER
Who was? I actually did major in English at Middlebury, but after an MBA from Columbia, and a stint at the Leslie Fay Companies, a women`s clothing firm started by my grandfather, I went into the sports apparel field. I ended up president of HEAD Ski and Tennis (to brag: we grew to #1 in America in both businesses while I was there) and later, le coq sportif, a French sports fashion line. It was one-too-many turnaround situations or more precisely--one that didn`t turn around, that hastened my writing career.


SO HOW`D YOU MEET JAMES PATTERSON?
Truth is, he called. Out of nowhere. An editor had given him the manuscript of a novel I was hoping to publish, HYDRA. At that point, I would have been elated if my gate guard (we live in a gated community) dialed in with a little praise. Jim said he had read the book and asked if we could meet for breakfast. He said he had several projects he wanted to write and not enough time to do them. I had the incredible foresight to say yes.

SO WHAT`S IT LIKE TO WORK WITH PATTERSON?
It was like a combination MFA and MBA rolled into one. He knows what kind of stories he wants to tell, has a keen sense of what will appeal to his readers, especially women, what`s vital in a scene for it to succeed, knows exactly when the scene needs more--or generally, less! And he`s an even better editor than he is a writer. Hopefully, I`ve learned a few things from him along the way.

SO WHAT HAPPENED?
I figured we`d do one book. It led to six in seven years. The Women`s Murder Club Series became one of the leading crime series of all time! My personal favorite was The Jester set in the thirteenth century in France. If you missed it, I really recommend you go back and take a read. Lifeguard had a great, likeable hero with the odds all stacked against him. Judge & Jury, our last together, is coming out July 31, 2006.

HOW DOES A WRITING PARTNERSHIP LIKE THAT WORK?
We alternate every word.
(Jim`s line, actually.) To be honest, we always began with a concept and an outline that came from him, which we fleshed out into a detailed chapter- by-chapter outline. (Some chapters longer than in the actual book!) No writer`s block here, the roadmap was always there. Every day, I knew exactly where I was going. That call from Jim changed my writing life!

SO WHAT`S NEXT?
In 2005, I signed a three book deal with William Morrow. The Blue Zone was published in Spring 2007, The Dark Tide will be on sale in March 2008, and stay tuned for number 3!

http://www.andrewgrossbooks.com/

Karinna Kittles-Karsten, best-selling author of Intimate Wisdom, The Sacred Art of Love, is an internationally recognized relationship expert and founder of Sacred Love Inc. Her unique Eastern and Western approach to intimacy has helped millions of people transform their love lives across the world.  

Karinna has been featured in countless national and international TV, radio and magazine interviews including on NBC`s Starting Over and in Self magazine. For further information visit www.sacredlove.com.

 

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