Viola Davis and James Patterson have collaborated on Judge Stone, a legal thriller out March 9 that centers on a Black judge in a small Alabama town confronted with a divisive teenage abortion case. This novel marks Davis’ debut as an author and reflects her renewed confidence in storytelling through this art form, especially for Black women.
The Collaborative Creation Behind Judge Stone
At 60 years old, Viola Davis partners with veteran writer James Patterson, 78, to bring Judge Stone to life. The book explores complex themes through Judge Mary Stone, a Black woman committed to justice and her local community in Alabama, where the story unfolds. Patterson shared that the idea came from his desire to craft a
“real controversial, dramatic, emotional novel about a courtroom drama in a small town.”
Davis recalled the moment her agent proposed the collaboration with Patterson, saying,
“My agent called and said, ‘Would you like to collaborate on a book with James Patterson?’ And I was like, ‘Wait a minute, hold up!’”
Viola immediately saw the project as a perfect fit.
As Davis describes the partnership, she called Patterson “the bomb,” emphasizing their strong creative synergy. Patterson explained their process, noting that since it involved only the two of them,
“there’s nobody to get in the way. There’s nobody to blame.”
Their focus remained unwavering:
“to make it better and better and better and better. And we pushed each other a lot — in good ways.”
Exploring the Impact and Characters of the Novel
Davis expressed how creating Judge Mary Stone revitalized her belief in the possibilities of this storytelling medium, particularly for Black women. She remarked,
“reinvigorated my faith in what could be created in this art form, I’m just going to say it, for Black women.”
According to her, Judge Stone could become a contemporary equivalent of Atticus Finch, adding a significant new voice to the long tradition of iconic courtroom figures in literature, dating back to Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird.
The novel is rich with complex and surprising characters. Patterson highlighted this, stating the story features
“so many formidable, complicated, just surprising human beings.”
Both authors emphasized the importance of ensuring the chemistry between them translated into authentic character development, with Patterson saying,
“We had to get together and talk and make sure that the chemistry would be good.”
Artistry and Human Connection at the Heart of the Story
Davis reflected on the essential nature of collaboration in art, whether bringing a character to the page or to the screen. She said,
“The foundation for me, collaborating on this book, is the very foundation of being an artist.”
She described the process as creating real human beings from written words, a challenge she and Patterson embraced. As she explained,
“you’re actually creating a real human being. That was the task for me and James.”
She further spoke about the unifying power of storytelling, observing,
“However you feel about someone that you don’t know, once they share their story — I don’t care if it’s someone who is completely opposite of you — you have a connection. That is the power of a novel.”
This highlights the novel’s potential to foster empathy and understanding among readers.
The Significance of Judge Stone and What Lies Ahead
Judge Stone represents a notable milestone for Viola Davis as she expands her artistry into novel writing, alongside James Patterson’s renowned storytelling. This collaboration has brought forth a timely narrative tackling social and judicial complexities through a multidimensional Black female protagonist, which speaks to ongoing cultural conversations.
With its release, Judge Stone is poised to add a distinctive and powerful voice to the legal thriller genre, inspiring readers and demonstrating the evolving scope of representation in literature. Davis and Patterson’s partnership serves as an example of creative synergy that pushes boundaries while remaining deeply human and relevant.
