Harlan Coben Publishes New Thriller

One of the area's own, writer Harlan Coben, who grew up in Livingston, has done it again. Coben has a new book in print: Six Years, says Coben on his website, is "a shocking page-turner" of love and secrets. 

Patch spoke to Coben in 2011 to find out more about his local roots.

I always like to ask writers about their writing practices or routines. I believe you can be found at the Starbucks in Ridgewood. Is that gathering ideas or actually writing?

Both. Mostly writing. And I don’t really go to Starbucks in Ridgewood very often anymore. I move around.

Do you share work with fellow writers? What do you take from that if you do?

Never. I have many writer friends. We talk about almost everything but writing.

You set your novels in and around our hometowns. What are the constraints of writing about a real landscape?

The same constraints, I guess, as when I write about any place – be it Livingston or Newark or Paris. 

Likewise, are there characters whose resemblance to actual people are more than coincidence? 

No. My books are works of fiction. That means I make stuff up.

How did growing up in Essex County influence you as a writer? 

I consider the suburbs of Essex County the bastion of the American dream – where people work hard and raise families and try their best. It is where I grew up. It is a part of me. In short, it influences every word.

I've interviewed a number of writers lately who identify themselves as Jersey writers, even Essex County writers. Do you?

Sure.

To what writers do you look to for inspiration?

Many things inspire me. A great novel, sure. So does a Hopper painting, a Springsteen song, a Woody Allen movie. I rarely look to other writers for inspiration.

Collaborative writing – good idea? Bad idea? With whom would you care to collaborate?

Writing is a solo activity for me, but I don’t judge. To each his own. And maybe one day I’ll change my mind.

When you run into classmates from Livingston, how do they complete this thought: "I thought you would turn out to be/do..."

“A tap dancer.” I’m joking. “Anything but a writer” is more apt.

Coben launched his new book tour Wednesday, March 20 at 12:30 p.m. at [words] Bookstore in Maplewood. Six Years is available there.