'Parking messes' and preservation: James Patterson talks Palm Beach

Jodie Wagner, Palm Beach Daily News
·4 min read
Author and Palm Beach resident James Patterson speaks during the Palm Beach Civic Association's annual award breakfast at The Breakers Palm Beach on Wednesday.
Author and Palm Beach resident James Patterson speaks during the Palm Beach Civic Association's annual award breakfast at The Breakers Palm Beach on Wednesday.

In a humor-filled birthday address to the Palm Beach Civic Association Wednesday morning at The Breakers, best-selling author and long-time Palm Beach resident James Patterson shared a few stories about his experiences living on the island.

The author of more than 200 novels, including nine that were removed last month from elementary school libraries in Martin County, Patterson — who turned 76 Wednesday — mused on a variety of mostly Palm Beach-related topics including parking, restaurants and bridge traffic.

Patterson and his wife, Sue, have lived in Palm Beach since 1998, and both consider the island their home, he told 225 Civic Association members and guests during the organization's annual awards breakfast.

Related:'Dangerous trend': Author James Patterson decries book removal efforts in Florida's public schools

Here is what he had to say:

• On his first impression of Palm Beach: The first time I came here, I thought it was one of the most beautiful yet comfortable towns I've ever visited. Charleston, La Jolla — I'll take Palm Beach in a heartbeat.

• On the island's parking problems: Don't get me started on the parking mess in Palm Beach.

• On trying to avoid bridge openings: When I first moved to this town, I made some rookie mistakes. I delude myself into thinking I can time the raising and lowering of the bridges. This is not going to happen, and it still can't happen.

• On the unpublished manuscripts he receives from strangers: They keep showing up in my life. They're in my locker at The Everglades Club, they're in the care of my caddy master at Emerald Dunes (Country Club). One time, somebody left a 500-page manuscript on the roof of my car where it was parked at Publix. You can't make this stuff up.

James Patterson poses for a photo with students from Palm Beach Public Elementary, Dreyfoos School of the Arts and Palm Beach Atlantic University during the Palm Beach Civic Association's annual awards breakfast at The Breakers on Wednesday.
James Patterson poses for a photo with students from Palm Beach Public Elementary, Dreyfoos School of the Arts and Palm Beach Atlantic University during the Palm Beach Civic Association's annual awards breakfast at The Breakers on Wednesday.

• On waiting for a table at the Palm Beach Grill: Sue and I have calculated that we have spent over seven months standing in the alcove at the Palm Beach Grill waiting for our dinner reservation. To be fair, they've been much, much nicer this year. I think we're going to the Palm Beach Grill for my birthday. I'll see you in the alcove.

• On maintaining Palm Beach's small-town feel: Let's keep Palm Beach, Palm Beach. There are so many things to cherish about this one-of-a-kind town that we live in. There are so many things to celebrate, so many things to preserve — the vias on Worth Avenue, the gardens at The Four Arts, The Breakers, the Flagler Museum, The Paramount, the kapok tree at the Royal Poinciana, and the Civic Association, which is essential to preserving this wonderful town. We can't stop change. It's coming fast. But we can manage it.

• On the books he's most enjoyed writing: I have different reasons for liking different books. I like that I created Alex Cross, which we're shooting as a series for Amazon right now. Of my kids' books, I like "Pottymouth and Stoopid", which some parents would go, 'Oh, it's got stupid in the title.' But yes, it's about word bullying.

• On new guidelines supported by Gov. Ron DeSantis that permit anyone to challenge books in public schools: I don't like what he's done with the potential for book banning. It's too broad. Are there books that should be occasionally banned from school? Probably. But not much. They just banned my "Maximum Ride" series in Martin County, and that's crazy. If the kids can't read Maximum Ride, then they can't go to any Marvel movies, or watch them on television. They're harmless books. They're all fine.

• On ChatGPT's potential effect on fiction writing: It's too early to tell. (New York Times columnist) Thomas Friedman says it's going to change the world, so it probably is. But I don't know enough yet.

Also Wednesday:

Palm Beach Civic Association Chairman-elect Michael Pucillo presents Daniel Ponton with the Bill Brooks Community Service Award during the Palm Beach Civic Association annual award breakfast at The Breakers on Wednesday.
Palm Beach Civic Association Chairman-elect Michael Pucillo presents Daniel Ponton with the Bill Brooks Community Service Award during the Palm Beach Civic Association annual award breakfast at The Breakers on Wednesday.

• The Civic Association honored Daniel Ponton with its 2023 William J. "Bill" Brooks Community Service Award. Ponton, the CEO/Proprietor of Classic Cuisine, better known as Club Colette, is a trustee of The United Way of Palm Beach and a recipient of the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce's "Pride of Palm Beach Award." He is involved in numerous community organizations that focus on healthcare, architecture, animals and children's advocacy.

For information on the Palm Beach Civic Association, visit palmbeachcivic.org or call 561- 655-0820.

Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: James Patterson shares Palm Beach stories during Civic Association address