A look at "life as an author" by David Baldacci

Best-selling thriller author David Baldacci, who recently wrote a young-adult book series, shared real-life stories from his life as an author during Monday’s Special Featured Speaker presentation.

Baldacci, known for books such as Simple Genius and the recent Freddy and the French Fries young-adult series, has been a writer most of his life. “I started writing as a kid,” he said. “I loved to tell stories most of my life. When I was a kid, it was usually to get myself out of trouble.”

Even during his decade as a trial lawyer, Baldacci continued writing. He recalled a time while working for a difficult senior partner when he was told the difference between getting a verbal confirmation and oral confirmation. The criticism later came with a copy of the book How to Write Well. The next day, Baldacci’s first book, Absolute Power, was sold to a publisher after months of writing. Upon returning to the office, Baldacci couldn’t help but return the book to his critical boss.

“I held the book up and said, ‘I just want you to know how much this book has changed my life,’” he recalled.

Baldacci’s latest book, The Whole Truth, hit bookstores in April. The book, his first global thriller, debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times Best Seller List for Hardcover Fiction.

Before his first book was published, Baldacci received countless rejection
letters for numerous manuscripts he submitted. Despite the rejection, he’s always seen such letters as a badge of honor. “For one thing, it means that you’ve written something and finished it,” he said. “It also means you’ve sent something you’ve put a lot of time and personal energy into to a complete stranger. The only time you really lose is if a rejection dissuades you from following something you’re passionate about.”

Janie Knight, principal at Norwood Elementary School in Knox County Schools in Knoxville, Tennessee, said she enjoyed hearing the author speak. “I read his books, so I’m a fan,” she said. “It was great to see him in person. He just seems like people you come in contact with in your everyday life. It was neat to see how certain events formed his life.”

Dennis White, an educator with St. Louis Public Schools in St. Louis, Missouri, also enjoyed Baldacci’s speech. “I think he was really good,” he said. “He was very articulate, as you would expect. He also was down to Earth and had a balanced outlook on life.”