(This story originally appeared in the March 2020 edition of New Jersey Monthly).
Nothing fancy here, just a Q&A with a writer whose work I really enjoy. Harlan Coben’s books aren’t going to win any Pulitzers, but they’re fun and propulsive, and the guy pumps them out with machine-like precision. They’re also really consistent — it’s some kind of amazing that Coben hasn’t run out of ideas or at least motivation.
This Q&A was pulled from about a 50-minute interview, so you cutting it to size was quite a challenge. I really loved our conversation, though, particularly as someone who’s in awe of people who can write novels. I keep trying to find the right idea for one, and keep bailing out. Someday …
In the meantime, I think this is a fun and quick look at the writing process, and of how a writer continues to find motivation and excitement in a form.
https://njmonthly.com/articles/arts-entertainment/harlan-coben/