Jeffrey Deaver and Isabella Maldonado are Partners-in-Crime-Fiction: Boston Book Festival Mystery Keynote

Bestselling mystery-suspense authors Jeffrey Deaver and Isabella Maldonado know a thing or two about navigating twists and turns — even in the writing process. At the 2024 Boston Book Festival’s Mystery keynote on Oct. 26, they discussed their own writing processes tailored to thrillers, the experience of co-writing book one of their Fatal Intrusion series, and advice for aspiring authors in this fast-paced, ever-evolving genre.

Deaver, a former journalist whose more than 40 novels and 100 short stories have sold over 50 million copies worldwide, described his personal writing process as often sitting alone in a dark room, closing his eyes, and imagining the scene.

“I can see and hear and taste and smell the scene. It sounds very dramatic, but it’s true,” said Deaver.

Darkness allows him to focus and “write very quickly,” as he requires “no distractions at all.”

Maldonado, a former police captain with her eleventh novel and a film adaptation of “The Cipher” both forthcoming, offered a stark contrast in writing habits.

“My writing is basically one long interruption, punctuated by sporadic typing,” she said.

Maldonado explained that her “insane” life presents many obstacles to focused writing, from motherhood to a new puppy, despite her early retirement.

“I fantasize about being able to cloister myself and write, that’s just not my journey. For me, it’s all a matter of trying to get back in focus all the time,” Maldonado said.

These opposite processes have not only led to individual success for each writer, but also a combined hit through “Fatal Intrusion” — the brainchild of both Deaver and Maldonado. Deaver described their creation as “oxymoronically, 100 percent 50/50,” as each contributed an original character in the novel’s leading duo and wrote the corresponding chapters in that character’s perspective. However, they swapped chapter drafts to cross-edit.

“We ruthlessly edited each other’s work. We declared a no-ego zone,” Maldonado said.

During this process, readers exist at the forefront of both authors’ minds. Maldonado emphasized that writing is a process in which the reader is “co-creating the story with you.” Writing, therefore, is inherently a team effort.

Deaver and Maldonado both highlighted how positive co-authoring has been.

“Neither one of us had ever written with anybody before, so it really was a leap of faith. It worked out,” Maldonado said.

The duo first met in 2018 at a Chicago writer’s conference, trying to “crack each other up” with stories in the green room. Later, at a publisher’s mixer during ThrillerFest in Manhattan, Deaver blurbed one of Maldonado’s books — and they both realized how similar their writing is. Once they began writing together, it quickly became clear that they were a great match in wit and style.

“If you are thinking of co-authoring with someone, we just had a lot of fun. It continues to be fun, we laugh a lot about the process,” said Deaver.

During the Q&A portion, Deaver and Maldonado shared some tricks of the trade for up-and-coming thriller writers. Deaver emphasized a need to write with “more dialogue, less introspection” and to include more passages with action in order to compete with an increasingly streaming-dominated world.

“We’re businesspeople, you look at the market,” Deaver said in regard to adjusting his own writing style in this shifting market.

Citing fellow bestseller James Patterson as inspiration, Maldonado has responded similarly, incorporating more “short chapters” that end on a “springboard into the next chapter.”

Deaver also offered insight for writers of any genre. His takeaways from 43 years in the writing business are to focus on planning, write in a genre well-known to the writer, and, of course, rewrite generously.

“Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite — and when you’re finished with that, rewrite some more,” Deaver said.

Maldonado advocated for outlining not only the story itself but also setting personal goals by publicizing one’s intent to publish.

“When you make a strong declaration like that, you’re creating accountability for yourself to get it done. Don’t get it perfect — get it done,” Maldonado said.

Deaver and Maldonado’s encouragement resonated with audience members and volunteers interested in immersing themselves further into literary professions.

“I just wanted to get more involved with the books scene around Boston and help out,” said Catherine Liberatos, a Writing, Literature, and Publishing student at Emerson College, on her decision to volunteer at this panel.

Fans of the duo also simply enjoyed the chance to see them in-person.

“I loved the panel. [I’m a] huge fan and lifelong mystery reader,” said attendee Lisa Gardner. “What a great opportunity in Boston to get to hear some of the top [in the] country — frankly, in the world — Jeffrey Deaver, Isabella Maldonado! I’m very excited for their next book coming out.”

Fortunately, fans will not have to remain at the edge of their seats for too long, as the duo has announced a release date of Sep. 9, 2025 for book two in their Fatal Intrusion series, “The Grief Artist.” With this collaboration, Deaver and Maldonado have shown that co-writing can be just as entertaining as a thriller.

—Staff writer Jackie Chen can be reached at jackie.chen@thecrimson.com.