Countdown
Bestselling American author David Baldacci races against the clock . . .
HE’S been writing since childhood – ever since his mother gave him a lined notebook in which to plot out his stories. Years later when he thanked her for being the spark that ignited his writing career, she revealed she’d given him the book to keep him quiet because “every mom needs a break now and then”.
After starting out in law David published his first novel, Absolute Power, in 1996. A feature film followed with Clint Eastwood as its director and star.
The bestselling author who hails from Richmond, Virginia, has so far published 34 novels for adults and six novels for younger readers. His latest offering, End Game (the fifth instalment in his popular Will Robie series), is due out later this month.
In this fun interview David (57) reveals what makes him tick. Ten words to sum up your working life to date. I truly live to write and I write to live. Nine things you can see from where you’re sitting. Books, maps, binders, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Department of Homeland Security, Lockheed Martin (an American global aerospace, defence and security company), photos of my family, a signed pic of actor David Suchet as Hercule Poirot, a drawing of my heroine Vega Jane by my niece Zoe Collin. Eight minutes to prepare a meal. What’s it going to be? Pasta, basil leaves, fresh tomatoes, onion, mozzarella, minced garlic, thyme and extra-virgin olive oil. Seven people you’d like to go for a drink with. Former US president Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, authors JK Rowling, John Irving and David McCullough, and actors Helen Mirren and Benedict Cumberbatch. Six things you can’t live without. Books, pasta, wine, friends, boating and dogs. Five favourite words. The book is finally finished. Four places you’d run away to. The Amalfi Coast in Italy, London, Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia, Provence in France. Three books you’ve bought recently. Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan, All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (for a second time; I loaned the first copy, didn’t get it back and wanted to read it again), and The Nowhere Man by Gregg Hurwitz. Two things that make you rant. Bullies and politicians. One thing you’d tell your teenage self. Chill out.