Novelist James Patterson claims white writers are victims of ‘racism’

Thriller novelist James Patterson has claimed ‘white older male writers’ are victims of ‘racism’ – because, he insists, it’s harder for them to get ‘writing gigs in film, theatre, TV or publishing’ nowadays.

James , 75, who lives in his hometown of Newburgh, north of New York City, famously wrote ‘Along Came a Spider’ with a black detective before it was adapted into a film with Morgan Freeman.

Speaking to The Times, he shared his concerns, claiming that it is hard for white men to get writing jobs these days.

He said: ‘[It’s] just another form of racism. What’s that all about? Can you get a job? Yes. Is it harder? Yes. It’s even harder for older writers. You don’t meet many 52-year-old white males.’

James is currently publishing his autobiography, called James Patterson by James Patterson. 

So far his books have sold more than 450 million copies but this is his first autobiography, which he’d begun as a project during the coronavirus pandemic.

James has said about his new book: ‘This book is about – I don’t know – the values we had, the importance of love. The importance of family. Things like that.’

He mentioned how his Irish Catholic childhood made him ‘driven’ from a young age and had no idea of the wealth that was to be bestowed upon him, with his total income over the last decade estimated at £558million.

He added: ‘I was driven early on because I really believed that my parents wouldn’t love me as much if I wasn’t successful. 

‘I don’t think I am the same person now. I do believe that I’m loveable. I think I’m a decent person.’ 

James , 75, who lives in his hometown of Newburgh, north of New York City, famously wrote ‘Along Came a Spider’ 

During his thirties he was the top of the advertising business as the youngest creative director and chief executive of J Walter Thompson in New York. 

But his ‘first love’ Jane Blanchard, who he was with for eight years, died from a brain tumour at age 39. 

James Patterson by James Patterson, pictured

He was with her, while ‘fighting advertising wars’ and writing as a novelist on the side.

A huge 1,500 women wrote to Patterson when they learnt he was single following her death, but it took him a decade to find love again with Sue, a former art director at J Walter Thompson, and former competitor in Olympic swimming trials. 

With two books on the New York Times bestseller list: the thriller Run Rose Run, written with Dolly Parton and set to become a film; as well as a Women’s Murder Club mystery with his regular co-writer Maxine Paetro, he is now working on a new project about the CIA with former president Bill Clinton. 

He often works in collaboration with other writers, and has teamed up with a lot of famous names. 

And he is currently working on a book on Princess Diana, Prince William and Prince Harry co-written with the journalist Chris Mooney.