Always Take Notes #122: David Baldacci, novelist
Nov 30, 2021
David Baldacci, bestselling novelist and former trial lawyer, reflects on the origin of Absolute Power and its movie path. He discusses balancing series and standalones, juggling multiple books, his hybrid plotting method, the craft of heavy revision, and renegotiating publishing deals to win fairer terms.
01:03:37
Obsess To Finish A Novel
- Be obsessive about a book if you want to finish and make it compelling.
- Write early mornings, nights and sacrifice time to immerse yourself in the story.
Penn Station Payphone Breaks The News
- Baldacci learned his novel was in a film bidding war from a payphone in Penn Station.
- Clint Eastwood signed on, which required rewrites to keep the burglar-character alive in the movie.
Why Series Beat Standalones
- Series let an author deepen characters and revisit unresolved arcs across multiple books.
- Baldacci prefers series because they enable ongoing character development beyond a single standalone story.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
Why crime fiction restores moral order
01:52 • 3min
1984 as a cautionary mirror
04:22 • 2min
Childhood prompt: the notebook that started it
06:27 • 2min
Early reading: puzzles and detective fiction
08:19 • 2min
From storyteller to trial lawyer
10:06 • 3min
Law practice trained precision in words
13:31 • 3min
How Absolute Power originated
16:41 • 3min
Writing Absolute Power while working full-time
20:02 • 2min
Finding an agent who wanted a career
21:42 • 3min
Turning Absolute Power into a film
24:53 • 4min
Film differences and a tense premiere encounter
28:32 • 3min
Writing after a big debut: avoiding complacency
31:02 • 1min
Why Baldacci embraced series fiction
32:23 • 1min
Working on multiple books at once
33:53 • 2min
Ad break
35:35 • 1min
Plotter or plunger: Baldacci's hybrid approach
37:03 • 3min
Editing: shaping draft into polished novel
40:33 • 2min
Business of writing: control and negotiation
42:35 • 5min
Reworking publishing economics for fairness
47:29 • 3min
Writing across genres and for young readers
50:54 • 2min
Commercial success versus literary snobbery
52:54 • 2min
Attlee Pine series and resolving Mercy
55:21 • 2min
Outro
57:38 • 3min
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Daylight
David Baldacci
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Split Second
David Baldacci
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Long road to mercy
David Baldacci
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Wish You Well
David Baldacci
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The Christmas train
David Baldacci
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The Blue Carbuncle
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
'The Blue Carbuncle' is a Sherlock Holmes short story where a Christmas goose is found to contain a valuable stolen gem.
Holmes and Watson investigate the origins of the goose to find the jewel thief.
They trace the goose back to a series of owners, uncovering a trail of deception and misdirection.
Holmes uses his deductive skills to identify the culprit and recover the blue carbuncle.
The story highlights themes of redemption and the power of observation in solving mysteries, showcasing Holmes's ability to see what others overlook.
#340
• Mentioned in 80 episodes
The Da Vinci Code
Dan Brown
In 'The Da Vinci Code', Robert Langdon is called to the Louvre Museum in Paris after the murder of the curator, Jacques Saunière.
Along with French cryptologist Sophie Neveu, Langdon embarks on a perilous journey to decipher cryptic clues hidden in the works of Leonardo da Vinci.
The plot revolves around an alternative religious history, suggesting that Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene had a child, and their descendants are protected by the Priory of Sion.
The novel is a blend of relentless adventure, scholarly intrigue, and cutting wit, with numerous twists and turns that keep the reader engaged until the astonishing conclusion.
#84487
Absolute Power
David Baldacci
'Absolute Power' is a gripping thriller about a seasoned burglar, Luther Whitney, who witnesses a shocking crime involving the President of the United States.
Luther becomes entangled in a dangerous cover-up as he possesses evidence that could bring down the most powerful man in the world.
As the Secret Service and White House officials try to silence him, Luther must outwit his pursuers and expose the truth.
Baldacci's suspenseful narrative explores themes of power, corruption, and the struggle for justice.
The novel keeps readers guessing as Luther uses his skills to navigate a web of deceit and ultimately seeks retribution for the crime he witnessed.
#21089
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
A Mercy
Toni Morrison
Jordi Fibla Feito
Set in the late 1680s, 'A Mercy' follows the story of Florens, a young black slave girl, and her experiences on a rural New York farm owned by Jacob Vaark.
The novel is told through multiple narrative voices, including Florens, Jacob, his wife Rebekka, and other characters such as Lina, a Native American, and Sorrow, a black-toothed woman.
It delves into themes of slavery, displacement, and the complex relationships between men and women in early America.
The story highlights the struggles of characters who are bereft of their roots and struggling to survive in a new and alien environment filled with danger and disease.
#30388
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Minutes to Midnight
H. R. Jackson
Minutes To Midnight: The Nemesis Chronicles by H.R.
Jackson is an exciting page-turner that captivates fans of fast-paced fantasy adventures.
This book is part of the Nemesis Chronicles series and is known for its engaging and thrilling narrative.
#360
• Mentioned in 78 episodes
Jurassic Park
Michael Crichton
In 'Jurassic Park', Michael Crichton tells the story of John Hammond, the owner of InGen, who creates a theme park on the fictional island of Isla Nublar featuring dinosaurs cloned from DNA found in amber.
The park's safety is questioned by a group of experts, including paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant, paleobotanist Dr. Ellie Sattler, and mathematician Dr. Ian Malcolm.
When a power outage caused by a greedy computer technician disables the park's security systems, the dinosaurs escape, leading to a desperate struggle for survival.
The novel delves into themes of genetic engineering, chaos theory, and the ethical implications of scientific advancements.
#1
• Mentioned in 1,760 episodes
1984
George Orwell
Published in 1949, '1984' is a cautionary tale by George Orwell that explores the dangers of totalitarianism.
The novel is set in a dystopian future where the world is divided into three super-states, with the protagonist Winston Smith living in Oceania, ruled by the mysterious and omnipotent leader Big Brother.
Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites historical records to conform to the Party's ever-changing narrative.
He begins an illicit love affair with Julia and starts to rebel against the Party, but they are eventually caught and subjected to brutal torture and indoctrination.
The novel highlights themes of government surveillance, manipulation of language and history, and the suppression of individual freedom and independent thought.
Simon and Rachel speak with bestselling American novelist David Baldacci. A former trial lawyer, after early attempts at screenwriting David published his first thriller, "Absolute Power", in 1996. A film adaptation followed, with Clint Eastwood as its director and star. David has now published 43 novels for adults; his books have sold 150 million copies worldwide, in over 45 languages and more than 80 countries. David's notable characters include Amos Decker, Aloysius Archer, Atlee Pine and John Puller, and he has also published seven novels for young readers. We spoke to David about the origin and publication of "Absolute Power", balancing series and standalone novels, and negotiating a better deal with publishers.
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