天美传媒

As a teenager, John Jakes 鈥�53, the only child of parents who were avid readers, worked as a page in a branch of the Chicago Public Library, allowing him, he said, 鈥渢o take out more 鈥榓dult鈥� books such as the Ellery Queen mysteries.鈥�

Such was the inspiration for a long and prolific career as a novelist best known for writing historical fiction and family sagas. Each of the eight volumes of 鈥淭he Kent Family Chronicles,鈥� published in the 1970s, was a bestseller. All three books of his Civil War trilogy, published in the 1980s, were No. 1 bestsellers. And he wrote many, many more books.

Jakes, 90 on March 31, said he stopped counting his novels when he reached 81 books, though 鈥渁 few more, though not many, followed.鈥� He responded via email to questions posed by 天美传媒 Magazine.

He still writes, 鈥渢hough no more 鈥榙oorstop鈥� novels,鈥� he said. When he was still writing those big novels, he outlined his plots, 鈥渂ut the final product often changes.鈥� On a typical day, he wrote in the morning, then researched or edited during the afternoon. It took him about two years to produce a book.

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