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Frequently Asked Questions

Please consult the FAQ BEFORE sending email. Your question may already be answered!

Where did the story of the five balls in Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas come from?

Imagine life is a game in which you are juggling five balls. The balls are called work, family, health, friends, and integrity. And you're keeping all of them in the air. But one day you finally come to understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. The other four balls–family, health, friends, integrity–are made of glass. If you drop one of these, it will be irrevocably scuffed, nicked, perhaps even shattered. And once you truly understand the lesson of the five balls, you will have the beginnings of balance in your life.

One of the most dependably recurring questions I've gotten over the years is where did the above story of the five balls–which appears in Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas–come from?

I first heard a version of it from my grandmother when I was a kid, but-though she was a creative soul-I expect it pre-dates her. All I know is it's been with us for a long time and has been told in many places–from Sunday sermons to a 1991 commencement address at Georgia Tech by Brian G. Dyson, former Vice Chairman of The Coca-Cola Company.

And I certainly am right there with everybody who resonates so strongly with it. It's one of those true bits of wisdom that, unlike us, never grows old.

How can I contact James Patterson?

You can write a letter to James Patterson at the following address:
James Patterson
c/o Author Mail
Hachette Book Group USA
237 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017

Or, you can email him.

How can I contact James’s North American publisher to order books, or with other customer issues?

Please call Hachette Book Group customer service at 800.759.0190.

In what order should I read James Patterson's books?

All of this information is available at the bottom of the Books page of this site. For the order of the books in the Alex Cross, The Women's Murder Club, and Maximum Ride series, visit their respective pages within the Books area.

When is James Patterson coming to my town?

You can see the latest tour dates on our Appearances page.

Where can I find a complete list of James Patterson's books?

You can find a complete list of James Patterson's books broken down in chronological order at the bottom of the Books page.

How can I get a signed James Patterson book?

Either attend a signing or contact a store that is having a signing. Also, sign up for the eNewsletter because special signed book offers are occasionally offered.

How can I find out more about James Patterson?

Read our interviews here at the site or read interviews that have appeared in print.

Are there any more movies coming out based on James Patterson's books?

Yes! Visit the Coming Releases section of the site to catch the latest news!