Books by Patricia Cornwell

Patricia Answers Your Questions - August 2008

by administrator on Sat Aug 16, 2008 8:37 am

Note from the administrator– Below are answers to some of your many questions, extrapolated from comments posted on the Message Board. In the future, if you have questions that you would like Patricia to answer, please go to “Questions for Patricia Cornwell” and post them there. Thanks!


1. Will there be any more books in the Andy Brazil series?

Answer - I have no plans for that at present, and rather much doubt Andy will be back. But I did have fun doing those books, in part because there wasn’t much humor in the Scarpetta series. Now I am trying to incorporate a little bit more mischief in all of my work.

2. Will the “werewolf” ever come back into Scarpetta’s life?

Answer - Do you want him to return?

3. Will Lucy ever find true love?

Answer - No telling. But you may be in for a surprise when you read SCARPETTA when it comes out in December.

4. Whatever happened to the first person narrative? Why did you change to the third-person narrative?

Answer - First person is too limited because it doesn’t allow my readers to see things from the other characters’ perspectives. No matter how many complaints I receive about changing point of view, I can’t go back. Scarpetta doesn’t want me inside her head all the time, and I don’t want to be there. As a writer, it restricts me beyond its useful purpose.

5. Will Kay’s dog appear again in the new SCARPETTA?

Answer - No. I think her dog is in Doggie Heaven, but she didn’t tell us.

6. What is going to happen to Marino?

Answer - I’d like very much to hear your speculations. To get the full and honest answer, you’ll have to read SCARPETTA. Perhaps I should offer a prize to whoever guesses the truth. I’m game. Interested?

7. How have you maintained your confidence and perseverance throughout your writing career?

Answer - I don’t always feel confident, but I work hard, regardless. I think this is an important attitude for everyone to have—and perhaps a comforting one—because it suggests that we can do well even if we don’t believe in ourselves at times. I wish I could tell you that I never stumble or never have anxieties, but that wouldn’t be true. I worry and feel “psyched out” (to use an old tennis term) on a regular basis, but I refuse to give in to it. In fact, I felt hesitation and even despair at times while I was writing SCARPETTA when I thought about how much readers and critics expect from me, but I just kept at it. I think it’s my best—no matter how I felt when I was writing it. And by the way, SCARPETTA is for you. I wrote it with my readers in mind, and I couldn’t have written this book had I not been working on the series for twenty years. I hope you’ll find it a bit of a feast.

8. Do you do public book signings? How can I get a signed book?

Answer - I promise to post the schedule for appearances (on the website). As for getting signed books in other ways, I’m not sure how I can manage that because it would become overwhelming if people sent me books to be signed. I had to stop doing that more than a decade ago. But I’ll think about it. I will continue to offer autographed books for contests and as prizes. My publisher has begun doing this, especially to encourage readers to review my books.

Now that I’m addressing this subject, I may as well continue. Since Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other web sites encourage readers to post reviews, anyone (and everyone) can be a book reviewer these days—whether one wants to critique a book fairly or settle a score or post a grudge. Of course, my publishers and I encourage people to post reviews for the right reason—to objectively recommend or not recommend a work. So don’t be surprised if you get mailings offering incentives for all of you to post honest reviews for my books.

9. Will Lucy ever get her own book series?

Answer - Do you want her to?

10. What was it like to grow up in Montreat (North Carolina)?

Answer - Good and bad. Good because it was a charming, warm and safe place with so many interesting things to occupy my time and attention. I had the freedom and independence to do rather much what I wanted to and never be in danger—there was no crime! It was bad in that it was very, very conservative, and I grew up fearing judgment. I have a special disdain for judgmental attitudes—for anything that is arrogant, self-righteous and lacking in compassion. On balance, however, I’d have to say that Montreat was a good place for a single mother like mine to raise three children. Had we not been in that tiny town—especially with my dear Ruth Graham up the hill—I don’t know what would have happened to us.