James Patterson Visits Fans at the Ossining Library

More than 100 people gathered to see James Patterson make an appearance at the Ossining Public Library.

The prolific and renown author did two question and answer sessions Saturday: the first for members of the press, and the second for the general public. Questions at the general session were asked by a local boy named Alex Carrazzone, 9, and Bob Minzesheimer, a former library board trustee who writes about books for USA Today.

In both his public appearance and in a private Q&A held with members of the press, Patterson hit on several recurring themes. He talked about the need to get kids interested in reading, saying that people who read will do better in life and have better imaginations.

"That imagination will ultimately help them to, 'Gee, what are we going to do tonight.' 'Gee, what am I going to do in life,' et cetera," he said to reporters.

He also said it is the responsibility of parents to give their kids books, and said that kids should be able to read what interests them.

As someone who writes in the Young Adult category, Patterson also said that it is important not to be condescending to kids, and that he writes book for younger people the same way as he does for adults, with the exception of language and type of content.

He also provided insight into how he comes up with new books. He told the press that he keeps a big folder of ideas, one he says that he keeps adding to "constantly." He also emphasized how he uses outlines to get started on shaping his works.

In response to a man who wanted to know how he's able to churn out lot of books – he now has dozens to his name – Patterson described a whirlwind routine, which includes writing seven days a week, multiple times a time and even later at night. Currently, Patterson says, he has 29 projects going on, including books and screenplays for movies.

Patterson also gave updates for his upcoming work, which includes shooting the next a new Alex Cross movie – titled Cross and starring Idris Elba - in the first quarter of next year, and a movie for his Witch and Wizard series in the second. Shooting for a TV movie version for his book Sunday's At Tiffany's will begin in September, he said. In addition, there are plans in the works for a movie based on the Maximum Ride series.

Adapting books to film has its own challenges. When asked at the press Q&A what the challenges are, Patterson described how it can be frustrating how the adaptations go, in contrast to how he feels it could be done.

"The challenge is not to kill yourself when you see what they're doing," he said.

On the print side, Patterson has a new book in the Daniel X series due out next summer, and around the same time will release work for a new series, which will revolve around a boy trying to survive middle school, described in the title from the character's view as "The Worst Years of My Life."

After the public Q&A concluded, a raffle was held for two of Patterson's books – donated from his publisher, Little, Brown and Company -  and several of his works were on sale at the library, courtesy of Pleasantville-based The Village Bookstore.

The idea to bring Patterson to the library started with conversation this past spring between Minzesheimer, who coaches Carrazzone and other boys on a little league team, and his mother, about how her son had read each Maximum Ride book.

When asked how he felt about asking Patterson questions, Carrazzone said he was nervous at first but felt fine once he got to know him.

Patterson, who previously came to the library three years ago and has a summer home in Briarcliff Manor, didn't disappoint.