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How mega-successful author Michael Connelly juggles his ever-expanding creative universe

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In a phase where numerous individuals his age might be retiring or contemplating it, renowned author Michael Connelly is instead embracing the latter part of his professional journey.

Titled “Nightshade,” his 40th novel is set to release May 20 from Little, Brown. It introduces the first installment of a planned series, featuring a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department detective sergeant who oversees a substation on Catalina Island. Simultaneously, production for the fourth season of “The Lincoln Lawyer,” the Netflix series adapted from Connelly’s works, is currently in progress, with Manuel Garcia-Rulfo reprising his role as Mickey Haller. Additionally, another Lincoln Lawyer thriller will be available on bookshelves October 21, marking the character’s return to literature two decades after its initial introduction.

Blend “Ballard” into Amazon Prime’s upcoming spinoff series of “Bosch: Legacy,” starring Maggie Q, and you create a literary Marvel-like universe – the Michael Connelly Universe – which has sold an astounding 89 million books in 45 countries and continues to grow.

And to think it might have come to an end. (More on that later.)

It’s been five years since I last spoke with Connelly, shortly before the release of “Fair Warning,” which was the third book in his Jack McEvoy series. This time, we arranged to meet at Joe Jost’s, a well-known Long Beach bar famous for its beer, where Detective Stilwell from “Nightshade” encounters an old colleague. There are plenty of topics to discuss, such as his thoughts on the final chapter of a distinguished career that spans nearly four decades. He was part of a Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalism team in South Florida and spent six years covering crime for the Los Angeles Times before that.

Connelly arrives at the bar slightly behind schedule, blending seamlessly with Joe Jost’s laid-back clientele due to his plain, everyday attire. The ambiance of Joe Jost’s is reminiscent, with its commemorative knickknacks, dusty antique beer bottles dating back a century, and towering schooners ready to be filled from the extensive selection of draft and bottled beers on offer.

In a rich mahogany booth, Connelly finds himself and his ordered sandwich as he discusses his tight deadline. He’s working on the final details for the upcoming Lincoln Lawyer novel, “The Proving Ground.” Interestingly, Connelly mentions that Haller will collaborate with McEvoy for the first time in this story. Intriguingly, he admits to renting a car specifically for this trip so he could write on his way here, and coincidentally, it’s a Lincoln Town Car – a vehicle similar to Haller’s preferred transport choice.

He mentions that writing The Lincoln Lawyer books takes the longest among his projects this year. He often seeks feedback from his lawyer friends on his works in progress, but he finds that lawyers can provide complex answers, which he then needs to simplify and make comprehensible for readers.

Writing about the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, with its complex jurisdictions and command structure, as portrayed authentically in “Nightshade,” proved to be quite an engaging task when crafting novels featuring LAPD homicide detective Harry Bosch, either independently or alongside other Connelly characters.

The author shares that they’ve met several sheriff’s deputies throughout the years, even one who recently retired in Texas and served on Catalina for two decades. However, they mention that their interactions with this particular deputy were limited because his role, as Stilwell, seemed akin to that of a small-town sheriff in a western. He was essentially the only one responsible for managing whatever situations arose. Given that backup was 22 miles away, Stilwell and his team of deputies sometimes needed to find unconventional solutions.

It’s evident from Connelly’s narration that his keen eye for detail breathes life into the novel “Nightshade”. Readers are able to imagine Joe Jost’s famous pickled eggs on pretzels, the sheriff’s station in Avalon, and Stilwell’s compact office. Furthermore, Connelly shares a charming anecdote about a judge who, with a smile, describes his unique court proceedings – he moors his boat, swims to the dock dressed only in a wetsuit, then changes into his robe kept at the sheriff’s station. After finishing work, this judge enjoys fishing on his way back to Long Beach. When Connelly encounters such extraordinary scenes or individuals, he thinks, “That’s definitely going into the book.

Food

Pickled eggs and charcuterie bowls at Joe Jost’s, the 100-year-old bar in Long Beach.

Occasionally, the information is directly applicable, other times it gets stored away. The author initially encountered the location for his upcoming novel during a bustling Fourth of July weekend in the 1990s. He explains, “I can’t recall why I knew or how I discovered that Catalina has only one detective on the island.” However, this piece of information struck him instantly as intriguing – “the man who must deal with everything.” Yet, he didn’t begin working on this idea until asked to write a short story for the 2021 anthology “When a Stranger Comes to Town.” This story, set in Catalina, was distinct but sparked a thought in Connelly’s mind that eventually evolved into “Nightshade.

At one point, Connelly was contemplating retirement. He explains, “I penned letters to my researcher and supervisor around the time when I was about 64, informing them of my plans to retire within a couple of years. Since they were younger than me, I suggested they start looking for new job opportunities. However, I ultimately didn’t follow through with it; I simply never resigned.

Books

heads up! In his latest novel titled ‘Fair Warning,’ Michael Connelly introduces us to former L.A. Times journalist Jack McEvoy, who now works for a non-profit news-reporting organization. The story revolves around the concept of closure.

The writer attributes part of his change in perspective to the exhilaration he receives from crafting stories about versatile detectives such as Renée Ballard and Det. Sgt. Stilwell. He explains, “For two decades, I’ve been writing about a character whose cases always revolved around murder because he was a homicide detective. But the concept of someone who deals with various situations offers a great deal of creative freedom for a writer. That’s why Renée Ballard initially caught my attention, as when I first wrote about her, she worked the midnight shift in Hollywood and handled everything. And for someone who spent 20 years writing homicide, homicide, homicide, that’s invigorating and fascinating.

In “Nightshade,” Stilwell is banished to Catalina Island due to a disagreement with his former homicide partner, Ahearn. On a Memorial Day weekend, Stilwell probes the demise of a woman whose corpse is uncovered underneath a vessel moored in Avalon Bay. This revelation instigates a rivalry with Ahearn and his companion, who are tasked with investigating the death, thereby relegating Stilwell to a secondary position. Though Connelly has delved into the theme of an upright detective battling for justice against adversarial peers before, “Nightshade” introduces Stilwell’s sharp humor, novel outlooks, and his unique trait – he’s in a committed relationship.

For the fortyth time, I’ve penned a book, and this is a new experience for me. I hope it demonstrates my growth as an author, as crafting stories around characters seeking or yearning feels more natural to me. I believe that once they’ve found what they were looking for and have returned home, the storytelling becomes less about them.

In a conversational manner, the sentence could be rephrased as: “The ‘Nightshade’ series has multiple dimensions to it. It may come as a surprise to you that despite being married since 1980 and celebrating 41 years of matrimony with my wife, I have penned 39 books about characters who spent their evenings on their own.

Voices

If L.A.’s a mystery, 25 Harry Bosch books are a brilliant, gripping way to solve it

Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch series, from “Black Echo” to his latest “The Waiting,” consistently invites readers into a dance. Alongside a detective who inspires unwavering support, we journey through Los Angeles – a city filled with perilous risks and opportunities for redemption.

While he was brainstorming fresh plotlines, some significant shifts were taking place within his Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in Hollywood. The “Bosch” series, which author Connelly thought was ending with its seventh season on Amazon Prime, had recently wrapped up; the spin-off “Bosch: Legacy” was still awaiting approval. Connelly had been deeply engaged with that initial series featuring Titus Welliver, dedicating all his time to it and the first season of “The Lincoln Lawyer,” before handing over the reins to the show’s writers. The pandemic offered him a chance to “rediscover my passion for penning books.

Or, as Renée Ballard says, dig down.

He mentions that while it appears he’s quite busy due to his work on two TV shows currently, his involvement isn’t as extensive as it seems. He explains that he contributes by setting up the characters in these series, so he attends the initial writers’ meetings. Once he sets his characters in motion, he allows them to develop independently.

In a new role on “Ballard,” Connelly became deeply engaged, making his first appearance in July. He praises its quality highly, stating, “It’s truly exceptional, and I’ve had the pleasure of watching all 10 episodes. My visits to the set were limited to about once a week for a few hours. However, the heart of the show lies with the writing team. I only visited their workspace on two occasions.

A crucial aspect of the series is Maggie Q, whose demeanor and Hawaiian background resonate remarkably with her on-screen character. Connelly praises her acting, stating, “Maggie is fantastic.” She possesses a strong, defiant persona that fits perfectly when dealing with the sexism within the department. She refuses to back down, and it’s even more powerful knowing that Maggie has Mitzi Roberts, the retired LAPD detective who served as inspiration for Renée Ballard, on set. Mitzi has experienced similar situations, making her an invaluable resource for Maggie or the writers when they have questions or need advice. Maggie and Mitzi have developed a strong connection.

After completing the ten episodes of “Ballard” season one – which held some delightful twists for fans of “Bosch: Legacy” – Connelly is contemplating another Stilwell tale as his potential next project. “I have a two-book deal,” he explains, “but it’s flexible about when I submit another Stilwell story. Since this is a new character, I find myself eager to craft more tales that will establish him well.

After saying goodbye, I allowed Connelly to return to his Town Car and continue reading his Lincoln Lawyer novel. He moved through the establishment, requesting his vehicle, clearly excited for the next phase of an engrossing third act. Here’s hoping it features another Stilwell, and soon.

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2025-05-19 13:31

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