An Interview With Laugh Out Loud Author James Patterson on Inspiring Kids to Read, and What They Should Read Next

You have an amazing knack for telling stories kids want to read in a relatable voice, which may surprise adults who have read your books for years. What made you start with adult fiction and then later transition into books for kids?
James Patterson: I really became invested in the idea of writing for children when my son, Jack, was young. He was a reluctant reader, so we tried to get him to read books that he’d be excited about. So I started writing books that I knew he (and other kids!) would enjoy.
Laugh Out Loud offers a fictionalized look behind the scenes into starting the Jimmy books imprint—which parts of the book in particular are true to your own life and your journey as a writer?

JP: Like Jimmy, I was a big reader as a child. I liked to think up stories in my head. I always say that what I do isn’t work, it’s play—I think Jimmy feels that way about his books, too. If you do what you love, working hard is fun.
Do you have an ideas folder like Jimmy does in Laugh Out Loud? Where do you get your inspiration for new books?
JP: Yes, I have a big folder of ideas, and it just keeps getting bigger. My ideas come from everywhere, but I’ve gotten some of the best ideas from the same thing that got me into writing in the first place: reading.
You do a lot of book name-dropping in Laugh Out Loud—some truly stellar reads like Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time, Louis Sachar’s Holes, and Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One, among others. What are some of your current favorite reads for middle graders?
JP: I’ve always loved The Book Thief. Rick Riordan is great. I really liked Wonder by R.J. Palacio.

In Laugh Out Loud, Jimmy is great at doling out book recommendations. For the countless young readers who have read and loved your books, what book or series would you recommend to kids who liked …
Middle School? Dork Diaries by Rachel Renée Russell
I Funny? Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Treasure Hunters? Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein
House of Robots? Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor by Jon Scieszka
Public School Superhero? Hero by Mike Lupica
Jacky Ha-Ha? I Heart Band by Michelle Schusterman
Word of Mouse? The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
Pottymouth and Stoopid? The Misfits by James Howe

What tips do you have for parents of reluctant readers to get their kids turned on to books?
JP: My best advice is to let your kids read what they want. Whether it’s graphic novels, comics—whatever it is, so as long as it gets them reading.
What advice do you have for young writers?
JP: I can’t tell anyone how to write, only what works for me. But there’s one thing that every writer should do—read everything you can get your hands on.
If you could ask James Patterson one question, what would it be?