Bestselling series success was an unexpected surprise for Colorado author, Stephen White

Many authors, who are struggling to get their work published, may not believe the incredible story behind the success of Colorado author, Stephen White’s best selling mystery/thriller series, but the truth is, White did not set out to be an author. He did not foresee the future popularity of his Alan Gregory series, or even publishing the first story. He did not set out to write a bestselling series, or even to write a successful book. His first story began while he was working as a psychologist in Boulder, as a learning exercise,

“Alan Gregory was an invention of convenience. I didn’t begin writing the first story with the goal of initiating a series. I didn’t even begin writing the first story with the goal of completing a book. I was writing a story of indeterminate length as an exercise to help me learn how to use the word processor that came with my first computer . . . It’s important to keep in mind that at the beginning I had no illusion that anyone would ever read what I was writing.”

The series began in 1991, with Privileged Information. At the time, White had no idea that he was creating a diverse cast of complex characters that would still be featured in his writing for the next two decades. Drawing on his own experience as a clinical psychologist may have helped to create the popular character, Boulder psychologist, Alan Gregory, who is a critical figure in the best selling series, though not always featured as the main character.

“The sibling to Privileged Information (Private Practices) was well under way when I sold the first book to Viking. At that time, I had no idea that Alan would continue beyond those two stories. I actually had a plot line that had Alan dying at the end of the second volume, but I couldn’t make it work. The fact that I felt his work was done after two books does illustrate, however, that I did not view Alan and I holding hands, walking into the sunset. That was one of the many things I was wrong about early on.”

Today, with more than fifteen novels in the series, it is clear that White’s recurring characters, including Alan's wife, Lauren, and Boulder detective, Sam Purdy, who is a close friend and the main character in his last book, The Siege (2009), are well liked by readers, who continue to come back for more. His latest work, The Last Lie, which is due to be released this August, places Alan Gregory back on center stage.

“I started completely naïve about the allure of series fiction, not only from the point of view of readers, but also from the perspective of publishers. After it became clear my initial story had indeed become a book, but well before I sold it to a publisher, I began writing a sibling volume that contained a storyline that I really had expected would fit into the first novel but, alas, didn’t. The reality that I was writing a “series” and that my publisher expected that I would continue writing that series, didn’t come until after I had completed the third book, Higher Authority.

Since I developed the ongoing series characters with no grand plan, each was created as a character of convenience – they served roles in the books in which they were introduced. If I knew then that I would be dealing with them twenty years later, I’m sure I would have made different decisions.”

It is obvious that White is doing something right. While many authors might want to emulate his writing style and follow his example, White cautions those who are just starting out that the publishing world has changed drastically since he began his series. His second best piece of advice for those trying to break into the publishing world today,

“Don’t look to people like me for guidance. Publishing exists in a starkly different world than it did twenty years ago. The strategies that were successful for me would probably doom a hopeful writer today. What endures? Good stories, intriguing characters, quality writing. What is required beyond that? Determination, tenacity, and a thick skin. “

Another thing that has worked in White’s favor to make his books a success are the harmonious author/editor relationships, with editors that have worked together well with him,

“I have been blessed by a series of great editors in my career. Editors who love books, who respect writers, and whose goal is to help their writers publish the best book possible. The best editors collaborate with their writers, they don’t dictate to them. My responsibility is to be open to learning from their wisdom and their experience.”  

New writers may also want to take note of what White considers to be the best piece of writing advice that he ever received,

“I got it from my dissertation chair thirty-five years ago: The most important thing a writer does every day is put his or her butt in the chair. To me, that means that writers write. And they rewrite. They don’t think about it. They don’t plan to do it. They do it. They write.”

Stephen White makes it all look so easy. His story is certainly not the typical author’s slow rise to success, with countless rejection slips piling up, and editors trying to make his stories into something other than what he intends them to be. Discovering his hidden writing talent has led him on a journey that many writers only long to travel. Perhaps luck has something to do with it. Surely, his success has been a stroke of luck for his readers, who anxiously await the next book in the series with eager anticipation. As for what comes next – it looks like we will just have to wait and see,

“I don’t plan much as far as my writing is concerned. There is no series arc, there are no long term character arcs. One of the ways that I keep myself interested in this long series is by allowing the “big” story to develop organically. I still enjoy the surprise of daily creation, of sitting down and discovering what these characters are going to do next. It’s something I feel I share with my readers. Each of us—at different points in time—gets to enjoy these stories as they unfold.”