EXCLUSIVE: Get ready for a literary collaboration like no other! James Patterson and the late Michael Crichton have joined forces to create a thrilling new novel. With a combined total of over 675 million book sales, this dynamic duo is sure to ignite a fierce bidding war in the film industry. Mark your calendars for Monday, June 3, when Hachette Book Group’s Little, Brown and Company will release Eruption. Hachette Book Group CEO Michael Pietsch describes this collaboration as “one of the most spectacular meetings of minds in literary history.”
Based on a partially finished manuscript by Crichton, Eruption was entrusted to Patterson by Sherri Crichton, the author’s wife and CEO of CrichtonSun. The novel explores the terrifying scenario of a once-in-a-century volcano eruption on Hawaii’s Mauna Loa volcano, which threatens a secret cache of chemical weapons capable of destroying not only the island but the entire world.
It’s worth noting that the last time Michael Crichton wrote a Hawaii-based thriller, we got the iconic Jurassic Park series, which has grossed over $6 billion worldwide and remains Steven Spielberg’s highest-grossing film. Just like Jurassic Park, Eruption is planned to be the first book in an exciting new series.
Patterson, a longtime fan of Crichton’s work, expressed his gratitude for being entrusted with this extraordinary story. He believes that Crichton’s brilliant idea, combined with recent events, makes this novel incredibly timely and prescient. Patterson is eager to bring Crichton’s vision to life and captivate readers with this thrilling tale.
Sherri Crichton revealed that Eruption was her late husband’s passion project, set in the place that inspired him the most: Hawaii. Michael had conducted extensive research, created detailed outlines, and even interviewed volcanologists to ensure the authenticity of the story. Working with James Patterson, the world’s most successful author, has been a privilege for Sherri, as they bring Michael’s original vision to life.
The Crichton/Patterson collaboration is the first deal signed after CrichtonSun partnered with Shane Salerno and The Story Factory. Salerno compares this collaboration to when George Lucas and Steven Spielberg teamed up to create Raiders of the Lost Ark. This exciting partnership is set to be a major event in the publishing world.
The Story Factory and CAA will handle the screen rights auction, representing Crichton and Patterson respectively. Story Factory also represented CrichtonSun in the book deal, while Williams and Connolly’s Robert Barnett and Deneen Howell represented Patterson. Get ready for an eruption of excitement and anticipation as this incredible novel hits the shelves!
