David Baldacci
Award-winning author David Baldacci has had his hit novel series turned into a brand new US crime drama, and we got the chance to chat to him about what to expect from the series that starts tonight.
The series follows King and Maxwell - former Secret Service agents who have razor-sharp chemistry and unique skills unlike any other, giving them a leg up on conventional law enforcement as they fight crime in their roles as private investigators.
As an author, how does it feel to have your work go into television?
Any time you have something translated into film or TV there is both excitement and some anxiety. Will they get it right? Will it be true to the characters? Will viewers react positively? It's a great problem to have, but it's not stress-free.
What should we expect from King and Maxwell?
King and Maxwell
The episodes are character-driven. You will learn a lot about the relationship between King and Maxwell, their strengths and weaknesses, the dynamic between them, and the fact that Sean refuses to carry a gun, which leads to some pretty funny situations. But you will learn that despite everything they each have the other's back. All the time.
How involved were you with the creation of the television series?
The producers were very gracious in keeping me in the loop on all aspects. I watched the audition reels, read the scripts, watched early iterations of the episodes and gave input where I felt it would be useful.
Your first novel was made into a movie, how was that experience?
Absolute Power was a big budget production from a major studio with a star-studded cast and an Oscar-winning director in Clint Eastwood. I say all that to say that there was very little for me to do. It was exciting to visit the set and meet everyone, and I thought they did a really good job of bringing the story to film.
You go where most people cannot go - what are some of your career highlights so far?
Meeting various presidents: both Bushes and Bill Clinton. Training with Army Rangers (who took it easy on me; otherwise I wouldn't be around to write this). Finding out that everyone from Dolly Parton to F.W. de Klerk were fans. But just meeting readers and getting to know the extraordinary people who toil away in the fields I write about is a pure joy.
25 bestsellers in, does it ever get old?
I write every novel as though it's my first. I bring awe and trepidation and a grand sense of fear to each project. I will never grow complacent and allow myself to ever think I actually know what I'm doing.
To aspiring authors out there, do you have any advice?
Don't necessarily write about what you know a lot about. Write about what interests you. That passion will come through in the pages and allow it to rise above the slush pile of trend-chasing writers’ works that will sit and grow mold on the desks of publishers.
Do you have any other projects in the works you can share some details about?
My YA novel, The Finisher, published in March. It took five years to write and represents quite a departure for me as I create an entirely new world inhabited by quite a cast of characters. It will be a series and I'm quite excited about it. Sony Columbia has optioned the film rights and envisions it as a Hunger Games-, Harry Potter-type franchise. From their lips to God's ears! I sold the book under a pseudonym because I wanted the publisher to be excited about the material rather than about my name. In April my new Will Robie thriller, The Target, comes out. WIll Robie and Jessica Reel, two extraordinary government assassins, are at it again, but they might have met their match this time. This series is also in the works for feature film. The film adaptation of my novel Wish You Well will be coming to theaters later this year. It stars Ellen Burstyn and Josh Lucas.
King & Maxwell starts tonight - Wednesday 5th March at 9pm on Alibi