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James Patterson, Susan Patterson Headline the Return of UNO’s Marion Marsh Brown Writers Lecture Series

The authors shared the evolution of their writing styles, their philanthropic efforts, and passion for storytelling.

  • published: 2023/04/11
  • contact: Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
  • email: unonews@unomaha.edu

BAXTER ARENA – The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) welcomed the world’s best-selling author James Patterson, and his wife, Susan Patterson, to discuss their new book “Things I Wish I Told My Mother” at Baxter Arena Tuesday night for the fifth annual Marion Marsh Brown Writers Lecture Series.

This signature series is presented each spring thanks to the dedication of the Brown family — Paul and Djel Ann Brown, and their children, Randy, Scott, and Marietta Luellen — to honor Marion’s memory and celebrate the joy of reading. Tuesday night’s lecture to an audience of more than 2,000 was the first time the university has hosted the event since 2019. Past speakers include Nicholas Sparks, Lee Child, Cheryl Strayed, and John Grisham.

UNO College of Communications, Fine Arts and Media Dean Michael Hilt, Ph.D., served as moderator of the discussion with the Pattersons about their new book, their views on the writing process, and insights into book publishing.

During the conversation, Hilt asked the Pattersons how they transitioned from careers in advertising to becoming writers. For James, it was a commute on the New Jersey Turnpike to and from New York City to a job at an advertising agency and a sign to take the road less traveled.

“I’m in traffic that’s moving five miles per hour, wall-to-wall on that side of the road, and on the other side of the road there was no traffic. Every 30 seconds I would watch a car go by,” he said. “At a certain point – this changed my life – it occurred to me that I needed to get on the other side of the road. My life was going in the wrong direction, literally. I needed to get out of advertising. I needed to write.”

Since then, his books have sold more than 400 million copies and inspired films adapted from his writing.

Whether he is writing an installment for the Alex Cross series, a collection of short stories of police officers in the line of duty, or insights on the last days of John Lennon, James Patterson has a singular focus when the time comes to put words to a page.

“I don’t think about anything other than trying to tell a good story,” he said. “At the end of it we want to be really happy we did the project.”

The wide-ranging conversation also covered artificial intelligence, the process of a book becoming a film or television series, the Pattersons’ shared love for teachers, and their mission to promote literacy.

“It’s really so important to have good teachers,” Susan Patterson said. “Everything we learn, we learn it from a teacher.”

Prior to the start of the event, UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, welcomed the Pattersons to Omaha, and thanked those in attendance for being part of this event.

“Tonight’s event is a great example of UNO’s urban metropolitan mission to serve our community. Events like this bring people together in celebration of literature and art,” Li said. “Great writing is a truly important part of student growth and performance, because fostering a love of reading, particularly in children and young adults has been shown to directly correlate with stronger performance in school.”

About Marion Marsh Brown
Marion Marsh Brown was a mother, author, and teacher. She died in 2000 at the age of 92. She published her first book in 1949 and added 18 more to her collection over the course of her life. She wrote and published hundreds of stories. She taught English at UNO (then Omaha University) and supervised student teachers for the College of Education. She married Attorney Gilbert S. Brown. She received numerous honors and awards including the Sower Award. Her books received Literary Guild Awards. In the late 1950s she was named one of the ten most important writers by the National Council of the Teachers of English. She began writing books when she found there appeared to be few good books for junior high students. Her husband suggested that she write about Nathan Hale as her first book and "Young Nathan" was the result. She followed this book with many books for young readers.