NASHVILLE, Tenn. ñ With nearly 30 books in print encompassing the
mystery, suspense, science fiction, romance and children‘s genres,
author James Patterson is virtually a household name. Among those who
haven‘t read his best-selling novels, many have seen the hit film
adaptations of his works, including Kiss the Girls and
Along Came a Spider starring Morgan Freeman as FBI profiler Alex Cross. The miniseries version of his novel 1st to Die
was the fourth most-watched television movie of 2002. To date, six more
novels have been optioned for production on television or screen.
Local fans will have the opportunity to hear the prolific writer speak
when he comes to Vanderbilt on Jan. 20 for the first Chancellor‘s
Lecture of 2005. Patterson‘s lecture begins at 6 p.m. in Ingram Hall. A
reception precedes the lecture at 5 p.m., and both events are free and
open to the public.
Patterson includes Vanderbilt alumnus among his long list of
accomplishments, having received a master‘s degree in English from the
university in 1970.
Many credit the author‘s widespread appeal to his highly accessible
writing style. Patterson‘s books are classic page-turners with
far-fetched yet thrilling plot twists and short chapters intended to
give readers a sense of accomplishment as they read. Their “addictive”
quality helps Patterson count among his most avid readership high
school students who have never before finished a book, as well as
adults who have lost interest in reading.
Patterson maintains a similar pace as he writes, turning out an average of three novels per year. London Bridges, the 10th novel in the Alex Cross series, was published in November 2004. Honeymoon,
his next thriller, is scheduled for publication in February. In between
the two ñ and leaving no literary stone unturned ñ he published santaKid, his first children‘s book.
In addition to the popular Alex Cross series, Patterson has authored the Women‘s Murder Club series, which includes 1st to Die, 2nd Chance and 3rd Degree; Beach House; Sam‘s Letters to Jennifer; and Suzanne‘s Diary for Nicholas, which will air as a television movie on CBS in February.
Patterson‘s is the fourth lecture in the 2004-05 Chancellor‘s Lecture
Series at Vanderbilt. The Chancellor‘s Lecture Series serves to bring
to the university and the wider Nashville community those intellectuals
who are shaping the world today. For more information about the series,
visit www.vanderbilt.edu/chancellor/cls.
Media contact: Kara Furlong, (615) 322-NEWS
kara.c.furlong@vanderbilt.edu