I'm Lee Goldberg, #1 New York Times bestselling author ＆ TV writer/producer, and not the weatherman, sportscaster or wrestler, here to talk about anything except weather, sports, and wrestling, but mostly about crime fiction writing. AMA

[u/LeeGoldberg007]

I'm Lee Goldberg, an ex-Navy SEAL, freelance Sexual Surrogate and a professional Daniel Craig impersonator. Okay, almost none of that is true. But this is my first Reddit AMA, so I wanted my first sentence to be a grabber. If this intro bogs down, I may add a sex scene or car chase, so pay attention. I'm the #1 New York Times bestselling author of nearly 40 books (that's true!) -- and the latest is LOST HILLS, a crime novel about Eve Ronin, the youngest female homicide detective in the Los Angeles County Sheriff's department.

My other books include TRUE FICTION (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apr70Dcvm1w) , KILLER THRILLER (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJBEf4BLP6g), THE WALK (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lOEe67uKtI) , fifteen original MONK novels (based on the TV series) and five "Fox ＆ O'Hare" novels co-authored with Janet Evanovich. I've written and/or produced TV shows, including DIAGNOSIS MURDER, SEAQUEST, MONK, NERO WOLFE, BAYWATCH, and MYSTERY 101 (which I also co-created)

“Take me now,” she moaned, “you hot writer stud.”

She tore off her clothes and tackled me onto the floor, unable to control her raging lust. Nothing excited her more than being around a writer with a big list of books.

Got your attention again? Good. I don’t know about you, but I was starting to nod off. Where was I? Oh yes…back to LOST HILLS, which just came out. The novel is based on a real case and, to research it, I attended several homicide investigator training conferences around the country. You can find out more about me (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSxEpWaKgiM), my books, my shows, or my rugged good looks at www.leegoldberg.com

Proof: /img/gh31w2u4pwz31.jpg

[u/nj_crc]

Single best bit of writing advice you can give someone starting out.

[u/LeeGoldberg007 → u/nj_crc]

Read, read and read. If a novel moves you, or makes you laugh, or scares you.. go back and look at how the author did it. If the book sucks, as yourself why. Second bit of advice -- put your ass in a chair and write. Books don't write themselves.

[u/LeeGoldberg007 → u/LeeGoldberg007]

The most important thing is putting words on the page. Even if the only thing salvageable after a day is one sentence. Finish what you are writing. You can, and should, always go back and rewrite your crap and make it good. But you can’t rewrite a non-existent manuscript.

[u/ChuckEye]

How do you go about co-writing a novel? (Is it similar to how a writer's room works for a TV show? Or since it's just the two of you, is there a different shifting of responsibilities?)

[u/LeeGoldberg007 → u/ChuckEye]

Co-writing is different with each author/writer you work with. With Janet, we worked out the story together, then I'd begin writing the first draft, sending her 25,000 word chunks. She'd give me notes and then, when the first draft was done, she'd do her Janet pass, taking the book to the next level…which, as you can imagine, is huge leap up in humor, character and pure fun. There’s only one Janet Evanovich, and anyone who thinks they can replicate what she does it insane. There’s a reason why Janet is one of the bestselling authors on the planet…and it’s that skill and magic that she brings to the page when she sits down to do her revision. I learned from her with each book.

[u/IMCLAUDE62]

Hello, you hot writer stud. Firstly, don't "take me". I'd rather just be friends. My wife is an understanding soul, but she has her limits. I've enjoyed your work for years and, this may sound trivial, but the first book I was not able to put down (Cliche', I know. But true) was "Mr. Monk and the Two Assistants". I can only attribute this to your knowledge of stringing words together until you have some kind of a story thing. Thank you and good afternoon, morning or whatever it is where you live.

[u/HeckinChonkosaurus]

What's it like having a brother in the same field? Do you talk about your writing work/life? Would you consider writing something together?

[u/KurtVonnebeergut]

Are there any writers/books that you read and disliked or thought they were bad, but that you were able to learn from to influence your own writing positively?

[u/penelopurrs]

Why aren't you writing any more Fox and O'Hare? They were hilarious!

[u/LeeGoldberg007 → u/penelopurrs]

I wrote five books with Janet... but when it was time to do a sixth, I was already contractually committed to write other things (like my new book, LOST HILLS).

[u/penelopurrs → u/LeeGoldberg007]

That's good to know. I loved your collaboration with Janet E. Your styles meshed and those books are fun rereads! Would you be open to collaborate with her again in the future?

[u/penelopurrs]

What future projects do you have planned?

[u/LeeGoldberg007 → u/penelopurrs]

I have BONE CANYON, the sequel to LOST HILLS, coming out in January 2021 and soon I will start work on the third one. I'm also co-writing a new MYSTERY 101 (the series of Hallmark movies I co-created with Robin Bernheim) and a DARROW & DARROW (co-writing with Phoef Sutton, who created that series of movies for Hallmark).

[u/penelopurrs]

How often do you travel? What do you do in your travels? Where is your favorite locations?

[u/ChuckEye]

I've always been fascinated by the idea of a "show bible". When you've come into an existing TV series to write an episode (say, Spencer for Hire or Sliders for example) are you told about big-overarching storylines or plot arcs in advance, or ever been told something you wrote was wrong in the continuity or canon of the series? (I feel like as a fan, I'd love it if I could read the show bible for some of my favorite series, but on the flip side, it might be like knowing how a magic trick was done…)

[u/FiBaMiKi]

Were you happy with how Monk ended and turned out? I would watch that show every Friday with my mom and dad who loved it. I got my husband, then boyfriend, hooked on it. It was brilliant.

[u/Chtorrr]

What were some of your favorite things to read as a kid?

[u/WyattRipenstorme]

I've read your books and am familiar with your Television work. You also publish Brash Books. How do you budget your time to get so much done? Do you have a regular schedule?

[u/penelopurrs]

Of the characters you have created/co-created, which are your favorites and why?

[u/penelopurrs]

Your most recent book (Lost Hills) was incredibly different from Fox and OHare and Ian Ludlow in tone and in personality. How did you make that change successfully? Did you take inspiration from real life events/people?

[u/Babyyodadiaper]

My mission was to read and collect all Monk books in my 20s and I enjoyed every one of them! How were you able to capture Monk’s idiosyncrasies and humor so accurately? Can only imagine the hours of watching did you put in. Will definitely check out your new books soon.

[u/HeckinChonkosaurus]

What sort of things do you tend to read? Favorite current authors (just to limit it a bit)?

[u/penelopurrs]

I can't make it to any of your book signings this year, but I would love to meet you! Do you post your travel plans like signings in advance? Also would you be embarrassed if I fangirled a bit when I meet you? 🤣

[u/Gswisconsin]

How many people in your family are writers besides you and your brother? Any chance on follow-up/sequel books from THE WALK and KING CITY?

[u/widmerpool_nz]

Are you planning to write a sequel to "The Man With the Iron-On Badge"?

[u/GruntyDodds]

Fast Track: No Limits is a bit of a departure from what you usually write. Was that a script you shopped around or did the producers come to you?

[u/mingdug]

Sorry if this is a rude question but what is with the "New York Times bestselling author" about? I see some novels with this label and I don't really understand whether this is based on current novel sales or something else.

If you don't want to answer that question then here's another one. How did you get into writing at all? When did you start meeting other successful writers, was it through contacts or was it through something else entirely?

Not really into crime novels myself (not into novels that much nowadays since I'm busy a lot of the time) but will definitely try to pick it up for a friend of mine since they, and I can't stress this enough, LOVE crime novels especially ones from hunky writer studs such as yourself (hubada hubada).