Sidney Sheldon is a writing machine. His credits include 7 Broadway shows, 30 movies, 4 TV shows (”I Dream of Jeannie,” ”Hart to Hart”) and 7 novels (”The Other Side of Midnight,” ”Rage of Angels”). He is such a prolific author that his publishers have toyed with simply calling his next work ”Sidney Sheldon`s New Book.”
Q–Most writers love to be published but hate to write. Does that describe you?
A–No, I love the act of creating. It`s almost stream-of-consciousness with me. I start with characters and no plot and begin dictating to my secretary. As the characters come to life, the stories start to take place.
Q–How many are there with you in the inner circle of authors with multiple best-sellers?
A–Fewer than a dozen. James Michener is at the top. Then there`s Stephen King, who writes a book an hour. Jackie Collins has gotten up there recently. Irving Wallace. Harold Robbins isn`t as hot now as he was. Judith Krantz was there for a short time.
Q–How did ”Rage of Angels” come about?
A–I said to my publisher, ”Imagine the top criminal attorneys in the country–Louis Nizer, F. Lee Bailey, Melvin Belli–all wrapped into one, and it`s a beautiful young woman.” For ”Master of the Game,” I said, ”Imagine a matriarch so powerful that she controls her entire family, her daughters, husbands, lovers.” Control means money. If there`s money, where does it come from? I decided to put her in the diamond business. That took me to South Africa to research the industry.
Q–Is it true that mini-series rights to your newest novel, ”If Tomorrow Comes,” were sold to CBS-TV for $1 million on the basis of a three-word description? If so, what were the three words?
A–It is true. The words were ”female con artist.” The book wasn`t finished yet, so I wouldn`t let the network people read it. In fact, they didn`t read it until three months after they had bought it. A friend of mine told me he was at a party recently with Bud Grant of CBS and that he said to him, ”I understand you bought Sheldon`s new book on the basis of three words.” Grant said, ”That`s not true. I bought it on the basis of two words: Sidney Sheldon.”
Q–In spite of your popularity, the critics have never been kind to you. Does that bother you?
A–I don`t write for critics.
Q–What do you read?
A–Everything, especially the classics: George Bernard Shaw, T.S. Eliot, Shakespeare. I enjoy Tom Stoppard and David Mamet. But when I`m writing a novel, all I have time for are magazines.
