DiscoverHungry Dogs with James PattersonHarlan Coben on ‘Gone Before Goodbye’, Writing Thrillers for Hollywood, and Creative Roots
Harlan Coben on ‘Gone Before Goodbye’, Writing Thrillers for Hollywood, and Creative Roots

Harlan Coben on ‘Gone Before Goodbye’, Writing Thrillers for Hollywood, and Creative Roots

Update: 2025-11-12
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Harlan Coben joins Hungry Dogs with James Patterson to talk about the book he co-authored with Reese Witherspoon, Gone Before Goodbye, and the joy and success he’s found through collaboration. They look back at how Coben’s creativity developed—from his writing courses at UMass Amherst, to the early book deals that once felt massive, to the international acclaim he enjoys today. Though the two differ in how they bring their stories to the page, the New York Times bestselling authors find common ground in the struggles it sometimes takes to get the words down. Coben also discusses his collaborations with Netflix and the adaptations of his work abroad.




00:00 Intro


01:24 Back in the Day...
03:26 Early Career Struggles


04:51 Collaboration with Reese Witherspoon


08:37 Hollywood and Netflix Projects


11:36 Success in France and 'Tell No One'


16:27 Discussing the Bad Guy


16:51 Basketball Memories


17:50 High School Days with Chris Christie


19:13 College Years and Notable Classmates


21:50 Tragedy as a Teacher


23:39 Balancing Ordinary Life with Creative Work


27:29 Writing Process and Outlining


28:47 Golf and Life Analogies


30:50 Upcoming Projects and Family Connections

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Harlan Coben on ‘Gone Before Goodbye’, Writing Thrillers for Hollywood, and Creative Roots

Harlan Coben on ‘Gone Before Goodbye’, Writing Thrillers for Hollywood, and Creative Roots

James Patterson