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Bestselling Author David Baldacci ReadersRoom: David Baldacci, welcome to ReadersRoom.com -- and thank you for taking the time to chat with us today. DAVID BALDACCI: I'm glad to be here. ReadersRoom: I understand you are currently touring in support of your latest novel, Split Second, which is now at Number Four on the New York Times Bestseller list. I thought we would start off with that novel. Could you tell our readers something about it?

DAVID BALDACCI: I just got home this morning from Atlanta. I go to Detroit tomorrow. Sure. It deals with Sean King, a Secret Service agent guarding a candidate who's killed when King is distracted. His career is over. That happened eight years ago. In the current day, Michelle Maxwell is guarding a presidential candidate who's kidnapped under her nose. Her career is over. She teams with King to see if these two events are related.

ReadersRoom: This is the first time that I can recall you have dealt with the Secret Service in any of your novels. Was it difficult to research their procedures?

DAVID BALDACCI: Actually I dealt with them in my first novel, Absolute Power. I'm fascinated why anyone would want to do that job. One where you don't pick your boss, the voters do. And one where you have to be prepared to sacrifice your life. I interviewed a number of agents while writing the book, both men and women. They were very helpful.

ReadersRoom: Absolute Power was your first novel, I believe, and was subsequently made into a movie. Were you directly involved in the film, and were you happy with the outcome?

DAVID BALDACCI: I had very little involvement with the film other than going to see it. But if the worst thing that ever happens to me is Clint [Eastwood] makes a movie out of one of my books... hey!

ReadersRoom: Are there any plans to turn any of your other novels into films?

DAVID BALDACCI: I have a number of them being considered for film and television, but none of them are green lighted yet. Such is Hollywood.

ReadersRoom: Many reviewers have talked about your heroes, but I find myself equally fascinated by your villains. Do you find villains or heroes easier to write about?

DAVID BALDACCI: Villains are always more fascinating. I think they can be equally complex to write. Building characters takes millions of details whether they're good or bad. My job is to make them human.

ReadersRoom: To me, your most fascinating villain was Jackson from The Winner. Where did the idea for him come from?

DAVID BALDACCI: In the darkest reaches of my brain. I wanted to create a character that the reader would fear when that person appeared on the page. I think he's a cool character too.

ReadersRoom: The entire idea of The Winner was fascinating -- and one of the most unique I have ever read. All of America seemed to relate to the plot of the book. Did its success surprise you?

DAVID BALDACCI: Thanks. Many people tell me that's their favorite of my thrillers. I'm constantly amazed that people pay money to read me. I never take that for granted.

ReadersRoom: After a string of five very successful thrillers, you published Wish You Well in 2000 -- a complete departure for you. Can you tell us a little about how that novel came about?

DAVID BALDACCI: I've never considered myself one sort of writer. Wish You Well came about because my mother and grandmother are from those mountains. It's a story I waited years to write. It was a joy.

ReadersRoom: Were your mother and grandmother helpful in giving you the remarkable flavor you captured of mountain life?

DAVID BALDACCI: I grew up with my grandmother in our house and listened to stories of the mountain from her. My mother was very helpful during the course of writing the novel. Her memories of her youth were particularly vivid.

ReadersRoom: If I could move on to Last Man Standing -- there has been considerable speculation that Web London and Claire Daniels would come back in another novel. Is there any truth to this?

DAVID BALDACCI: I'm still thinking about that. Clearly I left the possibility open with the ending of LMS. We'll have to see. I'm still debating that.

ReadersRoom: Well, both were fascinating characters and I for one would love to see them again.

DAVID BALDACCI: Thanks. I like to think if you build strong characters, you can put them in virtually any story and people will enjoy it.

ReadersRoom: Okay, Mr. Baldacci, since we announced this chat we've received a lot of questions from our readers. Would you answer a few of those for us?

DAVID BALDACCI: Sure.

ReadersRoom: From Maggie in GA : Greetings, Mr. Baldacci! I'm a fan of your books, and I really enjoyed Wish You Well so much ... I was wondering if you plan to do another similar to that one, it's so different from your usual fare! Thanks!

DAVID BALDACCI: I've gotten that question often. I think that I will write in that genre again. I need to work up to it. I put my heart and soul into the novel and I would want to do any subsequent work justice.

ReadersRoom: From Frank in L.A.: You are known for your realistic characters, and intricate description of lawyers and the inner workings of our legal system. Do you base these characters on real people you have known?

DAVID BALDACCI: I often take bits and pieces of people I know or have observed and graft them on to my characters. I've never taken someone whole cloth and plopped them into a book. I would never do that. But everything else is fair game!

ReadersRoom: From Chalese in Boston: I read The Christmas Train and was fascinated by your departure from your usual style, as well as being enthralled with the colorful characters and fantasy-like ending. Did you do a lot of research for this book, which included traveling on trains? Also, is the information about Mark Twain true?

DAVID BALDACCI: I took those two trains all the way across the country. I love trains and wanted to write a story set on one. After my trip I had fifty pages of notes and off I went writing. The material about Twain came entirely from my imagination.

ReadersRoom: From Anthony in Maine: Both The Christmas Train and Wish You Well deviated from your normal formula. Which do you prefer to write?

DAVID BALDACCI: At different points of my life my answer would be different. Each is a nice change. The last thing I want to be is predictable or formulaic.

ReadersRoom: From Beth in Chicago: How much of your writing is based on things you see in real life? Do you take events from the press and use them in your story ideas?

DAVID BALDACCI: Not usually, because by the time I write the story the "news" is very old news. I try to keep my finger on the pulse of things, but really I try to come up with original ideas that hopefully have universal appeal. However, knowing what's going on around you doesn't hurt either. A writer has to crave knowledge and info.

ReadersRoom: Okay -- last reader question: From Lisa in Dallas: I love your titles, which are short and have great impact. Do you come up with them on your own, or does someone else help?

DAVID BALDACCI: I have come up with each of my titles. And it does take some work. Thanks!

ReadersRoom: Okay, I would like to switch now to the business of writing. Do you have a set work schedule?

DAVID BALDACCI: I have an office in the home and one outside the home. With that said, I have no set schedule or particular word count that I strive for each day. I can write as easily during the day as the middle of the night. I think about what I'm going to write for a long time before I sit down and actually do it. Then I tend to write in bursts.

ReadersRoom: Each of your novels is meticulously researched. How long does it usually take you to research a novel?

DAVID BALDACCI: Several months on average. That includes interviews in the field, performing certain tasks, (riding horses, firing guns) and poring over research materials and making phone calls.

ReadersRoom: And which do you personally enjoy the most -- the research, or the actual writing?

DAVID BALDACCI: The writing. I love to lose myself in ideas, stories and words. That's when I'm in my element.

ReadersRoom: Before we wrap this up, I would like to touch a little bit on your charitable work. Could you tell us a little about how you got involved with the charities you do so much for?

DAVID BALDACCI: There are many real needs out there. Literacy is one of my main causes. I know how much the joy of reading has meant to me and changed my life. It's the most important marker for having a high quality of life. My sister has had Multiple Sclerosis for 20 years hence my involvement in that area. I have been blessed and lucky in life and I feel a real duty to give back. It's just the right thing do.

ReadersRoom: And readers can learn more about these charities at your website. Could you give us the address?

DAVID BALDACCI: www.david-baldacci.com

ReadersRoom: Finally -- what is next for David Baldacci?

DAVID BALDACCI: A new novel, a new script, a very secret project that will be unveiled shortly and a Christmas story I just finished up for Amazon.com.

ReadersRoom: And lastly, is there anything you would like to say to your fans who will read this interview?

DAVID BALDACCI: Keep reading and commit yourself each day to help someone else discover the joy of reading. It will make our world a much better place to live. We all need to be reading ambassadors. And thanks for coming to chat.

ReadersRoom: David Baldacci, thank you for spending this time with ReadersRoom.com!

DAVID BALDACCI: Thank you.


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