Sarah Lyall
New York Times critic who moderated the conversation, asking questions about the collaboration and the novel Judge Stone.
Best podcasts with Sarah Lyall
Ranked by the Snipd community
Mar 25, 2026 • 50min
How Viola Davis and James Patterson Wrote a Novel Together
Viola Davis, Academy Award–winning actress and author, reflects on turning life and theater instincts into fiction. Sarah Lyall, New York Times critic, steers the conversation with sharp questions. They discuss how the collaboration began, shaping Nova and Judge Mary Stone, balancing trauma and voice, courtroom drama in a small town, and the moral stakes that drive the story.
