S H E R R I C R I C H T O N
Interview} John Russo
Photographs by} John Russo
Produced by} Ken Waller for Photohouse Productions
Make-up} Kindra Mann
Hair} Renato Campora
JR: I think it’s wonderful that you are continuing Michael’s legacy by releasing Eruption. What gave you the idea to join forces with legendary author James Patterson on this book.
SC: I always knew Michael was working on a book about a volcano. Researching and visiting volcanos around the world was his passion—but he never got to finish the book. When I found the manuscript after he passed away, I held onto it for many years, looking for the perfect fit of a voice to complement Michael’s and complete what he’d started. Meeting James Patterson, it just clicked. Jim is the loveliest person and such a fan of Michael’s. I was protective of the manuscript, and Jim was incredibly respectful of this. Like all of Michael’s work, humanity is at the center, along with a thread of caution, a reminder of the fragility and intensity of nature—and Jim honored this completely. The end result, Eruption, truly feels like Michael and Jim woven together. It’s seamless, which is another testament to Jim, since that’s not easy to pull off!
JR: How much input did you have in terms of the development of the book?
SC: Michael was always rigorous in his research and scientific accuracy, and it was important to me that this book maintain that standard. Jim really connected with this, and when he sent me his initial outline, I was expecting a page or two, but it was volumes. As Jim started sending me chapters, it was so fun to see this dance on the page. I’d wait for the next batch with the anticipation of a child before Christmas. I was very protective of certain characters and their trajectory and I also wanted to make sure Michael’s love of Hawaii, the Hawaiian people and culture was throughout. Jim made this a true collaboration—most authors of his stature wouldn’t do that, but Jim is extremely generous, a true gentleman. It was all woven together so beautifully.
JR: Will Eruption be developed into a film at some point? If so, who are your dream leads?
SC: The reception and excitement from Hollywood has been tremendous. Now it’s just a matter of putting the perfect team together.
JR: Tell us about your relationship with Hawaii.
SC: Michael introduced me to Hawaii. It was his favorite place to be and to write, he felt his most creative and peaceful self there. He loved the whole essence and had such appreciation for the land, the history, and the Hawaiian people. When we got engaged in 2005, we knew Kaua’i was where we’d get married, and we would live part time. Michael set Eruption on the Big Island, and the book is dedicated to the people of Hawaii.
JR: I think it’s great that you are exposing new generations to Michael’s incredible work. Are there future plans to re-release older books?
SC: When Michael was a student at Harvard Medical School in the 1970s, he wrote eight books under the pseudonym, John Lange. We’ve recently re-released these eight novels. As for the rest of Michael’s backlist, all eighteen books are still in print and introducing them to new generations has always been my focus. Creating a love of reading in young minds.
JR: Michael’s work is timeless. What do you think makes it resonate with different generations?
SC: Michael’s imagination and curiosity was unstoppable. He was so prolific. His cultural footprint is staggering and it’s quite astounding how prescient he was. The ideas he came up with twenty, thirty, even fifty years ago continue to be even more relevant today. He always presented a “what if” scenario: in Jurassic Park, he wrote about DNA, long before 23andMe. In Disclosure, he wrote about sexual discrimination and harassment long before the #MeToo movement. In Next, he wrote about gene cloning. Westworld, the sci-fi Western film he wrote and directed in 1973, was about robotics and A.I., and was the basis for the HBO series. One of Michael’s first books, The Andromeda Strain, which came out in 1969, was about a pandemic and you can’t turn on a TV anywhere in the world and not find ER streaming. His creative genius has become part of our collective conscious.
JR: How will you continue to keep Michael’s legacy alive?
SC: My dream is to use parts of the Michael Crichton archive, which I run, as an educational tool to foster a love of reading and writing and inspire creative minds. Through the archive, students will be able to observe Michael’s process, viewing his charts, notes and outlines, and seeing how the characters develop over various drafts. Because so many of Michael’s books have been adapted into movies, it’s important to me that this next generation doesn’t overlook the power of reading and expanding one’s curiosity. I always told my son that he has to read his father’s books before seeing the movies, and I hope that books such as Jurassic Park will remain on school reading lists, inspiring students and reminding them that reading is essential and can be just as powerful, if not more so, than watching a screen.
JR: Aside from the work you are doing for Michael’s legacy, what are your other personal interests?
SC: I love the arts, from exploring museums to working on childhood literacy projects. I also love spending time in nature, especially in Hawaii where my son and I go every year to reconnect with the beauty of the islands. We fill our days with adventures from hiking to biking, reading books and course relaxing. Traveling is essential and exploring the world is so wonderfully fulfilling. I love opening his eyes to other cultures and traditions. Of course we can’t forget the fun we have with our adorable westie Thor.