Born in New Jersey, Harlan Coben, 62, studied political science and worked in the travel industry before publishing his first novel, Play Dead, in 1990. His work has been translated into 46 languages and he has adapted many of his bestsellers for television. Fool Me Once became the sixth most watched show on Netflix, and the TV series of his YA novel Shelter is available on Prime. The latest in his Myron Bolitar series is called Think Twice. He is married with four children and lives in New Jersey.
What is your greatest fear?
I don’t even voice them. Perhaps the books are my outlet here.
What was your most embarrassing moment?
I was followed by a mob of fans when I was doing a photoshoot in Paris. When I signed autographs for them during a break, one remarked: “Who the fuck is Harlan Coben? I told you it wasn’t Bruce Willis.”
What is your most treasured possession?
I don’t want to sound too kumbaya or pretend I don’t enjoy the finer things in life, but nothing comes to mind. If the house was on fire and I could only run out with one possession, I can’t think what it would be.
What would your superpower be?
That thing where you can transport yourself anywhere in a blink of an eye, mostly because I detest the drudgery of modern travel.
What is the worst job you’ve done?
I worked a janitorial job, cleaning university dormitories after students had gone home for the summer. You can’t imagine the condition some of those rooms were in. They could have doubled as sets for a slasher film.
What is your most unappealing habit?
I get distracted to the point of being rude. There is always a little part of me preoccupied with wondering what-if and trying to twist something into a story. It often makes me bad company.
Which book are you ashamed not to have read?
Where to begin? Ulysses, Wuthering Heights, Invisible Man, All the King’s Men. I could go on and on.
What does love feel like?
A white-hot explosion that turns into a comforting warmth.
Which living person do you most despise and why?
The most dangerous man is the one who doesn’t know what he doesn’t know.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“In other words.” Man, I need to just say it clearly the first time.
If you could edit your past, what would you change?
I’ve made a lot of mistakes, but if I could go back and fix the mistake, I wouldn’t be here.
after newsletter promotion
When’s the last time you changed your mind about something significant?
I change my mind a lot. Nothing shows you are more engaged, intelligent, and open-minded than taking in new evidence and altering your opinion. Let’s normalise changing our minds.
What would you like to leave your children?
Nothing. I would rather give it to them now.
How would you like to be remembered?
With a wistful smile.
What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
We are too often advised to live life to the fullest. That’s too much pressure. The key is to find joy and poignancy in the quiet and mundane. Life is lived between the so-called big moments.
What happens when we die?
Hamlet via Shakespeare described death as “the undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveller returns”. In short, we don’t know, and I am highly suspicious of anyone who tells us otherwise.
Tell us a joke
What did Jay-Z call his wife before they got married? Feyoncé. I’ll show myself out.
