Email from readers is always a pleasure to receive. We enjoy responding to inquiries and comments, and do so as diligently as possible, when possible. Some questions are asked often and you'll find the answers posted below. DUE TO THE ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF EMAIL LEE RECEIVES, please do him the favor of scrolling through this page before sending an email. Your answer could very well be here.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
  1. What's the next Jack Reacher novel? When will it become available?
  2. Should I read the Reacher novels in any particular order?
  3. Why are some Reacher novels in first person narrative and others in third person narrative?
  4. Why did Lee choose to make Reacher an ex-MP?
  5. How does Lee do his research?
  6. How many languages is Lee Child published in? How can I find out if a Reacher novel is published in my language?
  7. Jack Reacher in the movies?
  8. I'm a reader, writer, or reporter. How can I get in touch with Lee Child and/or Team Reacher?
  9. Does Lee read his email?
  10. I have an idea for a novel. Can Lee read it/write it/help me write it?
  11. What's the best way to get my books signed?
  12. How do I get my hands on Lee's autograph?
  13. Is Lee Child Lee Child's real name?
  14. I signed up for The Reacher Report but I haven't received one yet. Help!
 


  What's the next Jack Reacher novel? When will it become available?

PLAY DIRTY was the working title for what's now called NOTHING TO LOSE. Here are the on-sale dates:

UK, Europe and the Open Market: The Bantam UK hardcover of NOTHING TO LOSE (the 12th Jack Reacher novel) went on sale March 24, 2008; the mass-market paperback of BAD LUCK AND TROUBLE went on sale March 10, 2008.

Australia: The Bantam trade paperback (as large as a hardcover, but with a soft cover) of NOTHING TO LOSE and the mass-market paperback of BAD LUCK AND TROUBLE go on sale April 1, 2008.

New Zealand: The Bantam trade paperback of NOTHING TO LOSE and the mass-market paperback of BAD LUCK AND TROUBLE go on sale April 4, 2008.

US and Canada: The Delacorte hardcover of NOTHING TO LOSE goes on sale June 3, 2008; the mass-market paperback of BAD LUCK AND TROUBLE went on sale March 25, 2008.

South Africa: The Bantam trade paperback of NOTHING TO LOSE went on sale March 27, 2008, and the mass-market paperback of BAD LUCK AND TROUBLE went on sale only a day later, on March 28, 2008.

If you're wondering when the next Jack Reacher novel is coming to your country, Lee's literary agency posts an up-to-date list of foreign publications; just click on the book jackets for details. There are no on-sale dates (sorry), but at least you'll know what publisher did or will publish each title.

To keep up-to-date on tours and novels, the best way is to sign up for The Reacher Report. These reports are electronically published on an irregular schedule (when we have breaking news, we'll get that to you fast).

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  Should I read the Reacher novels in any particular order?

Lee wrote the Reacher novels so you could start the series with any one of them. Really. No fooling.

Our suggestion? Read them in the order Lee wrote them (they were published in that order, too). We believe the prequel (The Enemy) has more emotional impact after you've gotten to know Reacher a bit better. We numbered them on the BOOKS page for your convenience. There's also a printable list of all books available for download in PDF format and Word.

#1 Killing Floor; #2 Die Trying; #3 Tripwire; #4 Running Blind (US title)/The Visitor (UK title); #5 Echo Burning; #6 Without Fail; #7 Persuader; #8 The Enemy (the prequel, this takes place before the events of Killing Floor); #9 One Shot; #10 The Hard Way; #11 Bad Luck and Trouble; #12 Nothing to Lose.

If you're a diehard must-be-read-in-chronological-order person: The Enemy (the prequel); Killing Floor; Die Trying; Tripwire; Running Blind (US title)/The Visitor (UK title); Echo Burning; Without Fail; Persuader; One Shot; The Hard Way; Bad Luck and Trouble; Nothing to Lose.

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  Why are some Reacher novels in first person narrative and others in third person narrative?

Lee says writing in first person is more natural for him. But writing in third person gives him more freedom when building suspense. With third person narrative, the suspense builds easily as the reader can essentially see around corners and anticipate events about which Reacher has no knowledge. With the first person narrative, the reader can only know what Reacher knows. That's it in a nutshell. The storyline dictates what narrative voice would suit best. Certainly, with first person the story is more graphic and intimate as we're inside Jack's head. So far in the series, Killing Floor, Persuader, and The Enemy are in first person narrative. Die Trying, Tripwire, Running Blind/The Visitor, Echo Burning, Without Fail, One Shot, The Hard Way, Bad Luck and Trouble, and 2008's Nothing to Lose are in third person.

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  Why did Lee choose to make Reacher an ex-MP?

Lee wanted Reacher to be 1) suddenly downsized from something; 2) suddenly adrift in a world he wasn't familiar with; 3) accustomed to doing things in a rough-and-ready and very non-civilian way. So a previous career in the Army made sense, because it would explain all of the above. He made him an ex-MP because 1) he needed some forensic and detective-type skills; and 2) the Navy Seal or Special Forces thing had already been done. He made him an officer purely because he felt that although an Army-insider might see an NCO or Warrant Officer type as a more realistic choice, a higher rank might give Reacher better networking capabilities when calling on old buddies for help. It's been mentioned that Army personnel undergo the type of officer candidate school training which eliminates the mavericks, but Lee was hoping Reacher would be regarded as "the one that got away."

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  How does Lee do his research?

We have a handy answer to this question from when Running Blind/The Visitor was released in 2000.

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  How many languages is Lee Child published in? How can I find out if a Reacher novel is published in my language?

At last count, Lee is published in 43 countries and 30 languages worldwide. Lee's literary agency posts an up-to-date list of foreign publications; just click on the book jackets for a list of all publishers. Sorry, but the publication dates are not included on this page. Try Googling for the publisher's website, which should have all the info on which titles are available.

If you're a publisher and would like to inquire about rights to the Jack Reacher novels, please send an email to Madeleine Buston at DarleyAnderson.com.

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  Jack Reacher in the movies?

This is our #2 frequently asked question (the first being "When's the next book coming out?") A series of Reacher movies would be great, right? Paramount Pictures holds the option on the Reacher novels and plans to co-produce the movies with an impressive group of Hollywood notables. At present, they haven't chosen which of the novels to make into a film first, nor confirmed a director, nor any of the actors. When they do, we'll be the first to let you know, right here. Whatever you read elsewhere, you can ignore. If anyone has the scoop, it's Lee!

FYI, Lee figures that as long as Hollywood leaves the novel-writing to him, he'll leave the movie-making to them so he won't be writing the screenplay nor involved in choosing the cast, not even who plays Reacher. If you're an actor hoping to score the lead role, please have your agent contact Paramount Studios and, fingers crossed, we'll see you on the big screen soon!

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  I'm a reader, writer, or reporter. How can I get in touch with Lee Child and/or Team Reacher?

Foreign, film or TV rights: Madeleine Buston, Darley Anderson Literary TV and Film Agency
Review, interview, and all media inquiries: press@leechild.com
Website inquiries: Webmaven Maggie
Ask Lee a question or say HI: www@leechild.com

Media downloads:

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  Does Lee read his email?

It's read, all of it, yes it is!

We delete any rude commentary, business propositions, and inappropriate correspondence. We also have to delete all email with extensive ideas for novels or which include whole or parts of unpublished stories or novels (Why? See FAQ below). All other email is forwarded to Lee. Due to Lee's writing and tour schedule it's not always possible for him to respond which is why you'll hear from Webmaven Maggie (Lee's jack of all trades). Lee will get back to you if time permits but we hate to interrupt him when he's writing (because if we could only convince him to write TWO books a year, we'd all be much happier!)

With hundreds of emails coming in each week, we do our best to reply in a timely fashion and apologise in advance if the reply is tardy or, due to overzealous spam-blockers and/or the mysteries of the ethernet, you never receive a reply.

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  I have an idea for a novel. Can Lee read it/write it/help me write it?

If you have a great idea, you should write it yourself and reap the reward. Please don't send any unpublished work or story ideas. Lee will never see your email—his lawyer has sent us strict orders to cull any such requests.

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  What's the best way to get my books signed?

The easiest way is to bring them to an event listed on the website Appearances page.

If you can't make it to any of Lee's appearances, the second best way is to request a signed bookplate from Webmaven Maggie (please remember to include your snail mail address).

Lastly, you can mail your books to Lee for signature and/or inscription. In order for everything to work smoothly, IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT YOU FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS!

A) Send an email to www@leechild.com with the quantity of books you would like signed (to save time, please mention you've read these instructions). Webmaven Maggie will check Lee's schedule to determine his availability. We cannot accept packages without prior authorization; we get many unsolicited packages and your books could be lost among them if they were mailed and we weren't expecting them.

B) Send the book(s) in a package that contains all the following: a pre-stamped, self-contained and self-sealing re-mailer, for each individual book, with your name as addressee and Lee's as return address. Please do not put clear tape over the stamps as the USPS will refuse them.

Please note:

In the US, the return-mailing envelope you include MUST have real postage stamps on it, not a postage meter tape. The U.S. Postal Service will not process a metered envelope unless it is mailed from the same origination point as that of the postage meter tape. For example, if you include a SASE with a pasted-on return postage meter tape from a post office in Houston, Texas, we will have to pay for the return postage because the local post office won't accept the tape as pre-payment. They only acknowledge stamps. We do not keep stamps on hand, so please do it this way.

In the UK and Europe (and all members of the Universal Postal Union), you can send "International Postage Coupons" for the exact cost of each return shipment. While we know this works when sending books from the UK, we suggest you check with your local post office to ensure that it will work from your country. To determine the cost of return shipping, visit the United States Postal Service website and calculate first class postage for each package to be return shipped.

Do not send a crate of books unless that same crate contains a SASE for each of the books inside. We cannot re-mail boxes. We can't send books C.O.D., Fedex or UPS, and we absolutely can't take checks or money orders for postage. If you want your package insured, that is your responsibility.

C) Finally: stick a piece of paper in each book at the precise page you want signed, and let us know if you would like an inscription. You're welcome to request a specific inscription but given some of the requests we've seen, Lee reserves the right to inscribe as he chooses.

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  How do I get my hands on Lee's autograph?

Autographs come two ways: a signed bookplate or an autographed 5" x 7" photo of Lee. They're real signatures, not printed ones, rest assured. If you'd like a photo (or a bookplate), just ask Webmaven Maggie and send her your mailing address; she'll take care of everything.

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  Is Lee Child Lee Child's real name?

It isn't the name he was born with. He says, "The performers' unions I belonged to in the past demanded a name change if there was a danger of confusion with an established personality. As a consequence over the years I worked under three different names, and I saw how it was often a valuable psychological boost, you know, new job, new name, personal reinvention, maybe this time things will work out a little better."

And this time, things did work out a little better. Which begs the question, what's real, anyway? "Maybe ten people in the world call me by the name on my birth certificate. Sometimes I can barely remember what it is. Ten million people call me Lee Child. That's more real to me than government paperwork."

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  I signed up for The Reacher Report but I haven't received one yet.

There's only a few reasons why this might happen. HOW IT WORKS: We use a double opt-in system to compile our mailing list. Using the link provided here, you can access our mailing list form. Once you've filled out the fields, checked the "I want to receive mailings from LeeChild.com" box, and clicked on the button which reads "Join Now", you should automatically receive an email from us. This email will include a link, and ask you to click on it to confirm your registration. YOU MUST CLICK ON THIS LINK (or copy and paste it into your browser), or your email address will not be added to our mailing list. Using this double opt-in system assures your internet provider that our email is not SPAM.

If you do not receive an email from us asking you to confirm your registration, then it's possible that you mistyped your email address, or your Inbox is over its size limit, or your spam blocker is bouncing our email. We know we're not a spammer, but in this day of overzealous spam blockers, your ISP might not. We try our best, but sometimes we just can't get through. Set your internal spam blocker, or ask your ISP, to allow email from LeeChild.com@mail.vresp.com and LeeChild.com both. If you have a problem viewing images and links in the newsletter once you get it, this will solve that problem, too.

The last reason why you might not have received The Reacher Report is the simplest. Maybe we haven't sent one out since you joined our mailing list? We publish The Reacher Report on an irregular schedule and don't like to flood your Inbox with unnecessary notices. They're infrequent but well worth the wait! Thanks for your patience.


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