Q&A: Michael Connelly, Author of The Waiting

Q&A: Michael Connelly, Author of The Waiting

Tell us about your new book The Waiting

Well, this book has a lot of things going on, possibly the most complex storytelling I have written so far. At center is Renee Ballard and at times she’s joined by a Bosch. That is, Harry Bosch in some chapters and Maddie Bosch in others. Together they handle three unrelated cases, including L.A.’s most notorious unsolved murder, The Black Dahlia case.

Renee Ballard is such a kickass character. How do you write such a great female lead? 

Renee is based on an actual kick ass detective named Mitzi Roberts. I feel like I write these books with Mitzi looking over my shoulder — in a good way. She has been and will always be so instrumental in the forming of Ballard and how she works and how she sees the world. 

This is your 39th book (the big 4-0 next year!) and your books just keep getting better and better. How do you keep the stories so fresh and real each year? 

My career has been a gift and I cherish it and guard it. I know I can never mail it in. I try to avoid getting stale by always looking for stories of inspiration, stories that I know will keep me plugged in and with momentum through the writing of the book. Momentum is key. If you don’t feel it then something is wrong and needs to be corrected.

Any hints on what’s coming next? 

I don’t have a title yet but I am working on a novel for next summer that will introduce a new character, the lone Sheriff’s Detective who works on Catalina Island off the coast of Los Angeles.

What book are you reading at the moment and loving? 

Daniel Levitin’s new book, I Heard There Was A Secret Chord. It’s a scientific study on music as medicine. 

Buy a copy of The Waiting here.

Reviews

Utterly Compelling: Read an Extract from The Waiting by Michael Connelly

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29 October 2024

Utterly Compelling: Read an Extract from The Waiting by Michael Connelly

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    21 October 2024

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                  Publisher details

                  The Waiting
                  Author
                  Michael Connelly
                  Publisher
                  Allen & Unwin
                  Genre
                  Fiction
                  Released
                  15 October, 2024
                  ISBN
                  9781761471780

                  Synopsis

                  LAPD Detective Renée Ballard finds herself tracking a terrifying serial rapist while also defending her career, with the help of the newest volunteer to the Open-Unsolved Unit: Patrol Officer Maddie Bosch, Harry's daughter. 

                  Renée Ballard and the LAPD's Open-Unsolved Unit arrest a man in his early twenties and find themselves with a DNA link to a serial rapist and murderer known as the Pillowcase Rapist. Twenty years earlier, after a five-year reign of terror, he had suddenly gone quiet. But when Ballard and her team move in on their suspect, they encounter a baffling web of secrets and legal hurdles.

                  At the same time, Ballard's badge, gun and ID are stolen—a theft she can't report without giving her enemies in the department the ammunition they need to end her career. Working the burglary leads to unexpected danger and, with no choice but to go outside the department, Ballard knocks on Harry Bosch's door.

                  Meanwhile, Ballard has taken on Patrol Officer Maddie, Harry's daughter, as a new volunteer to the cold case unit. But Renée soon learns that Maddie has an ulterior motive for getting access to the city's library of lost souls.

                  Ballard is determined to bring justice—but opening this cold case also opens a Pandora's box…

                  Michael Connelly
                  About the author

                  Michael Connelly

                  Michael Connelly decided to become a writer after discovering the books of Raymond Chandler while attending the University of Florida. Once he decided on this direction he chose a major in journalism and a minor in creative writing - a curriculum in which one of his teachers was novelist Harry Crews.After graduating in 1980, Connelly worked at newspapers in Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, primarily specializing in the crime beat. In Fort Lauderdale he wrote about police and crime during the height of the murder and violence wave that rolled over South Florida during the so-called cocaine wars.In 1986, he and two other reporters spent several months interviewing survivors of a major airline crash. They wrote a magazine story on the crash and the survivors which was later short-listed for the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing. The magazine story also moved Connelly into the upper levels of journalism, landing him a job as a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times, one of the largest papers in the country, and bringing him to the city of which his literary hero, Chandler, had written.After three years on the crime beat in L.A., Connelly began writing his first novel to feature LAPD Detective Hieronymus Bosch. The novel, The Black Echo, based in part on a true crime that had occurred in Los Angeles, was published in 1992 and won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel by the Mystery Writers of America.Connelly's books have been translated in 31 languages and have won the Edgar, Anthony, Macavity, Dilys, Nero, Barry, Audie, Ridley, Maltese Falcon (Japan), .38 Caliber (France), Grand Prix (France), and Premio Bancarella (Italy) awards.Michael lives with his family in Florida.Michael also makes regular appearances on the TV show Castle .

                  Books by Michael Connelly

                  COMMENTS

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                  1. Margaret Frailey says:

                    An excellent crime novel, as always. However i wish there was morre of Harry Bosch in it. For me, Harry has always been the star of the series. Not the same with him in a minor role. I dont really get Ballard. Id like to read more about who she is behind that badge. I feel i know Harry, and even Maddie to a bigger extent, but all i really know about Ballard is she loves to surf. I dont really like her. Unusual for me re a main character.

                  2. danisa says:

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                    Love how Michael describes his writing process! Reading crime novels has always been my favorite way to unwind after playing games on Pokemon TCG Pocket. The way he builds tension in his stories reminds me of the anticipation in a good card match. Can’t wait to read “The Waiting” – sounds like another gripping story!

                  8. yxchen1994 says:

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                  18. Syloon says:

                    Wow, Michael Connelly really dives deep into character development! I love how he constructs layers to Renee Ballard and connects her to real-life figures like Mitzi Roberts. It’s fascinating how he keeps his stories fresh while tackling complex issues. Also, if anyone’s looking for some cool stationery inspired by creativity, check out some cool stationery.

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                    It’s amazing how Michael connects personal experiences with his characters. It makes them feel so real! Seeing Renee tackle tough cases while maintaining her grit is just inspiring. If you’re into creativity and design, you might find the Pantone Colors Chart helpful for your next project—just a little something to spark inspiration: the Pantone Colors Chart helpful.

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                  22. So excited for ‘The Waiting’! The Black Dahlia case sounds thrilling, and the Bosch/Ballard combo is a dream. It’s inspiring to hear how you keep your stories so fresh. Can’t wait to grab my copy at Cooking Grow a Garden!

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                  31. slowroadsgame says:

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                    This sounds incredible! Renee, Harry, and Maddie all in one book? That’s going to be an epic read. It really makes you appreciate how complex and well-developed these characters are. Sometimes I wish I had a tool to help me brainstorm my own unique personas, like a good character maker (https://www.makemyoc.com).

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                  44. The part where he explained how Bosch and Ballard’s relationship evolved over the series made me smile, because I’ve read a few of the earlier books and always wondered what keeps pulling them back into each other’s orbit even when they’re chasing different leads.

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                    I’ve always loved how incredibly cinematic Michael Connelly’s writing is! The gritty Los Angeles atmosphere in the Bosch and Ballard books practically jumps off the page. As someone who creates book review videos for thrillers, I’m always trying to capture that neo-noir vibe. I actually use the AI video generation models at https://wan2-7.io/ to create moody, hyper-realistic B-roll (like rainy city streets or flashing police lights) to play in the background while I discuss the plots. It brings the book’s atmosphere to life perfectly! I can’t wait to pick up ‘The Waiting’ this weekend. Great interview!

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                    Such a fantastic Q&A! Renée Ballard has quickly become one of my favorite protagonists. Connelly’s ability to weave complex, visually striking police procedurals is incredibly inspiring for any storyteller. In my own creative process, when I’m trying to visualize a scene or create a “book trailer” concept, I’ve started using the AI video generation tools at https://aiseedance2.net/. Being able to type a prompt and instantly see a gritty detective scene or a suspenseful cinematic shot come to life really helps to unblock writer’s block. Definitely adding ‘The Waiting’ to my bedside reading pile!

                  50. Alex says:

                    The Bosch universe is just so rich, and I always love reading Connelly’s insights! We already have the amazing TV shows, but whenever a new book like ‘The Waiting’ drops, my mind immediately starts directing the movie adaptation. I’m such a huge fan that I’ve actually been playing around with the AI video generation models at https://movart.ai/ to create my own fan-made “concept trailers” for Ballard’s investigations. It’s crazy how you can just prompt a “moody LAPD detective walking through a rainy alleyway” and get a Hollywood-level clip in seconds. Can’t wait to read this one and see what scenes I can visualize next!

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