Q&A: Prolific Writer Harlan Coben Is Coming to Sarasota in February for an Author Luncheon

This article was originally featured in Sarasota Magazine. To view the full article, click here.

Prolific author Harlan Coben is everywhere these days—including Sarasota.

The award-winning writer of 35 novels of thrills and suspense is in the midst of an ongoing Netflix deal (the latest miniseries of which, Run Away, premiered New Year’s Day), recently oversaw the debut of Lazarus on Amazon Prime Video, hosts the new true-crime series Harlan Coben’s Final Twist on CBS, and has a new book, Gone Before Goodbye, out with collaborator actress-producer Reese Witherspoon.

But despite his packed schedule, Coben is still finding time to appear Feb. 6 at the annual Library Foundation for Sarasota Love Our Libraries Author Luncheon at The Ora. We caught up with Coben for a quick chat prior to his Sarasota visit. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Did you always want to be a writer from childhood on, or when did that urge develop?

“Actually, it happened in college. I was working in the Costa del Sol in the summer as a tour guide, and the experience was so strange I wanted to write a book about it. And I did, I wrote an entire novel. It wasn’t very good, but I got the writing bug from that.”

And how did you lean into the suspense/thriller genre?

“I never really thought of it as a genre, more that it’s a form. I call them books of immersion; they’re the book you take on vacation and then you can’t leave your room because you can’t stop reading it. In that form, I can do all the things I want to do with family, redemption, grief, love, but making it a thriller. I love suspense, making people turn pages.”

It feels that with as many books as you’ve written, you must have a pretty structured routine.

“I really don’t. It’s always a fresh adventure every time. I call myself a serial routinist. I constantly change up what I’m doing. I don’t have a home office, I don’t have a set time. I use different rooms, coffee shops, bars; I’ve even worked at tables in grocery stores and the back of Ubers. If it’s producing pages, good; if it’s not producing pages, bad.”

Ever have the fear of the well running dry?

“I fear it every day, that’s part of being a writer. Fear and insecurity are your constant companions. Only bad writers think they’re good.”

You must be asked to do events like the library foundation luncheon all the time. How do you decide if you can spare the time?

“The truth is I never do them! I can’t remember the last time I did one; I don’t think I’ve done one since Covid. I travel so much for promotion with all the TV series I’m doing. But I know Sarasota has a very active library system. I’m a big believer in libraries. You can often judge a community by the strength of its libraries. It’s a wise investment for us. And I’m spending a couple days in Sarasota to get out of this cold weather [in New Jersey, where he lives]. I have friends who live there, and I hope to discover things about the city.”

How did your collaboration on the latest book with Reese Witherspoon happen?

“Reese and I have known each other about a decade. We fangirl and fanboy each other. She called one day and said, “I’m gonna be in New York City and I have an idea I want to run by you.” I was reluctant; I don’t mind collaborating on TV or movies, but I wasn’t sure about books. Well, I should never say never. She gave me the idea, and we thought we could have a lot of fun doing that; let’s give it a try.”

Has she ever written a book before?

“Not a novel. It’s a whole new thing for her, and we were pretty nervous. But it was a pleasure from beginning to end.”

Your daughter Charlotte has also ventured into writing, including on your TV shows.

“Yes, she wrote two episodes for Run Away and has done some other series with me, too. But I get her less and less now, because she has her own TV show, Dead Hot. She’s really, really good. She’s much funnier than I am.”

Always a hard question to answer, but who do you love to read?

“Yes, hard because I always forget somebody. But I’m currently reading Michael Connelly’s new book with his Lincoln Lawyer character, and also just read another new one by him, Nightshade, where the character of Detective Stilwell is named after a mutual friend of ours. Mike is a friend of mine, too.”

What do you do with your rare off time?

“The truth is, I don’t do much. Part of being a writer is being obsessed with being a writer. Whenever I’m doing something else, there’s a voice in my head that says, “You should be writing.” I golf, but I probably won’t in Sarasota because of time. But most people’s hobbies are creative, like painting. I don’t collect, I don’t go antiquing, I don’t like Persian carpets. I don’t really have any other hobbies. It’s all about either my family or the books and TV shows.

“But let me say the key takeaway for me here is that libraries are hugely important. A luncheon for a library, about books—that’s a win-win-win.”

The Library Foundation for Sarasota County’s Feb. 6 author luncheon with Harlan Coben is sold out, with a wait list, but you can try your luck by emailing hello@sarasotalibraryfoundation.org or calling (941) 404-3139 ext. 103.