Interview with Elmore Leonard

By: Elmore Leonard

Narrated by: Beth Anderson

In this exclusive interview, best-selling author Elmore Leonard talks with Audible's Beth Anderson about his long and prolific career, his writing process, and what it's like to have an inside track on Hollywood. Leonard has sold most of his books to Hollywood, several of which have been made into movies, including Out of Sight, Jackie Brown, Get Shorty, and its sequel, Be Cool, starring John Travolta and Uma Thurman. Be Cool hits theaters March 4. Elmore Leonard's current book, The Hot Kid, is expected out later this spring.Listen to Be Cool and other best sellers from Elmore Leonard.Producer: Kerry Donahue
Assistant Producer: Diana Krawciw
Post-Production Engineer: Gil Hova
(P)2005 Audible, Inc.

Great interview with a true legend in literature.

Leonard is fantastic. This interview was candid and interesting. A truly fascinating writer. Makes me want to re-read my old Leonard stuff.

This was a hoot!

I really enjoyed this interview. Mr. Leonard's candor was refreshing, and there were several points at which I laughed out loud. I'll listen to it again. Very enjoyable.

Getting to Know Elmore Leonard

I believe the interview was great with Elmore. The insight given was great and it is one of my first downloads and believe that it gave me an opportunity to learn not only of the author,writer, but of his process.

Thank you, Beth.

I am quickly becoming a fan of these free Beth Anderson interviews. I have been an Elmore Leonard reader for a long time. I especially like his westerns. (Any chance of getting these in circulation as audiobooks Audible?) Despite feeling already pretty familiar with E.L., I was able to see him in a new light due to this interview. Beth managed to get him in a state of perfect candor and ask really good questions. I not only found out some interesting new things about E.L., but was also given a few things to ponder. I recommend this interview, along with B.A.'s interview of Michael Crichton and Daniel Handler (Lemony Snickett), as well. Thanks, Beth, for your great work in getting these to my ears.

Writing in Real Life

I appreciated Elmore Leonard's straight up way of expressing his writing process, and developing his chacters.

Talks about his Craft

For other emerging writers out there that need to placate themselves about the 'way' they are doing things, Mr. Leonard offers up his approach to characters and craft (that at least jived with the way I write).

yep

a quick insight on a legend. everyone can learn from. I will definitely be getting more of his books.

Enjoyable and short

This is an easy interview with Elmore Leonard, recorded more than 15 years ago. Leonard provides some insight into his writing and how he wrote, and his emphasis on character. No great revelations in this one, but it's enjoyable and short.

interesting but not very exciting

What would have made Interview with Elmore Leonard better?

who knows?

Would you ever listen to anything by Elmore Leonard again?

absolutely. his books are exciting.

Would you be willing to try another one of Beth Anderson’s performances?

probably. it was elmore leonard who made me nod. he's not a very exciting writer, in terms of his personality and what he tells us about himself. he's just a boring work horse.

What character would you cut from Interview with Elmore Leonard?

pointless question.

Any additional comments?

well, i've read about 30 books by elmore leonard, and have been listening to a good many in audio format. the books are like music videos. you remember them for some bits and pieces, but not for the music.the performances help to bring those characters to life and/or to differentiate them one from the other. essentially, leonard is a writer not much different from dick francis. you read the books because they're always the same, not because they're different.

the author himself struck me as totally dull, there's really nothing i want to know about him personally. i just wish him good health and may he produce a good many books more.