URI_Research_Magazine_Momentum_Spring_2018_Melissa-McCarthy

“I wanted to be back in New England, my home region and an environment that inspires me as a writer. I was also eager to mentor creative writers at the highest level in our field.” - Derek Nikitas

Nikitas’s most recent collaborator, James Patterson, is affectionately called the ‘Henry Ford of Books’ by Vanity Fair for his frequent rate of production. Patterson has built a literary empire, his novels are published as quickly as online bestseller lists can be refreshed. The collaboration began with Patterson’s ebook series “BookShots,” which are pulse-pounding thrillers under $5 and 150 pages or less. Nikitas has published two BookShots: Diary of a Succubus and You’ve Been Warned: Again . “I was interested in the challenge. I wanted to learn from him,” says Nikitas, of hearing from Patterson’s team and building his relationship with the literary giant.

“Working with Patterson has been a remarkably creative exercise for me.” With the goal to capture audiences who do not typically read, Nikitas had to examine his tone, characters, and plotline for BookShots. Nikitas’s process is driven by methodical planning. A framework is generated by two or three ideas, through which Nikitas creates, explores, and pushes characters and plot. He develops extensive outlines chronologically, which he revises until he is ready to write the novel. “The system creates momentum, efficiency, and a cure for writer’s block,” Nikitas says. “Outlines are a way of

Page 18 | The University of Rhode Island { momentum: Research & Innovation }