Hollywood luminary Viola Davis, an actress celebrated for her Egot status, is venturing into the world of adult fiction, co-authoring a novel that plunges into one of America's most contentious social issues. The acclaimed performer, known for her powerful storytelling on screen, believes this transition was inevitable.
"I think actors are storytellers, I think people are storytellers," Davis says. "I carry a story within myself… I absolutely love stories. That’s a place of connection."
Her debut novel, Judge Stone, co-written with bestselling author James Patterson, is a state-of-the-nation tale set in the small Alabama town of Union Springs. The narrative unfolds when a local doctor faces murder charges for performing an illegal abortion on a 13-year-old girl, a case that swiftly divides the community. At its heart is Judge Mary Stone, a Black woman who presides over the trial, finding her modest courtroom suddenly thrust into the glare of national debate.
The subject of abortion remains a particularly hot-button issue in the United States, especially following the Supreme Court’s 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade. This landmark decision eliminated a national constitutional right to abortion, paving the way for state-level bans and restrictions.
Patterson, who has sold over 300 million copies of his novels, including the Alex Cross and Women’s Murder Club series, confirms that "there is a lot of reality that inspires" Judge Stone. Given Alabama’s current near-total ban on abortion, a scenario depicted in the book could realistically proceed to trial today.
"There are a lot of very tragic things that have been going on in the last couple of years now because of the reversal of the law, putting people in very difficult situations – not just in Alabama, in several states," the 79-year-old author adds.
Asked why they chose to tackle such a divisive topic head-on, Davis, 60, responds: "Because we have to talk about it – that’s why. And why not?" She elaborates, "I’m a fan of discourse – there’s a lot to be learned from discourse. When you enter the novel, I think we’ve done a really good job of not painting it black and white, right or wrong. What you see is this town [through] the lens of this topic of abortion, and you see how it gets so agitated and riled up, and it becomes an awesome device for a beautiful drama."
Davis’s experience in crafting compelling narratives is extensive, from her portrayal of the complex lawyer Annalise Keating in six seasons of How To Get Away With Murder to her 2022 memoir, Finding Me. It was this proven ability that drew Patterson to the collaboration.
"I had read Viola’s memoir, Finding Me, and I admired it," he states. "I thought it was honest and true, the writing was terrific and the structure was great."
While Patterson has a history of celebrity collaborations, including with country singer Dolly Parton and Bill Clinton, he notes that working with Davis was distinct. "She’s probably the best writer I’ve worked with, [having] the background of dealing with story after story after story in the movies makes her great at that whole thing about: how do we tell the story in the best possible way?" he explains.
He contrasts this with other collaborators: "The other collaborators – that’s not their life work, telling stories, making them better and wanting to make them better. One of the great things for me is she just kept pushing me – sometimes I walk away too soon. I shouldn’t, and I didn’t in this case."
Judge Stone possesses a cinematic quality, perhaps a reflection of Davis’s background, though a big screen adaptation is not on the immediate horizon. "I try not to fast-forward," Davis says.
Instead, both authors looked to literary history for inspiration, citing Harper Lee’s seminal 1960 novel To Kill A Mockingbird. Both books feature an explosive court case that tears a small Southern town apart. Davis notes: "It does make a larger statement about who we are, which is very much To Kill A Mockingbird and Harper Lee, [where] a bigger statement was made, but you were so invested in the characters."
Patterson concurs: "It’s really great to start with the town, because you’ve got a small thing to work with, and a trial – [it’s like] To Kill A Mockingbird a little bit. And then all of a sudden… there are so many people who have come to this town, with so many agendas and points of view. [With] the internet, it’s a worldwide story… And it is controversial, I guess. But as I always said, let’s talk about these things. Let’s stop throwing stones at each other and talk."
Patterson had harboured the concept for years, stemming from his graduate studies in the South. "I went to graduate school in the south, Vanderbilt in Tennessee, and I, on some level, always had in my mind that I’d love to tell a big courtroom story in the South," notes Patterson, now based in Florida.
However, it was Davis who truly shaped the book, particularly the magnetic titular character, a hardworking judge who also tends to her family farm. "Judge Stone is beautiful in her contradictions and her depth," Davis says. "She definitely is strong, but she’s also vulnerable and honest, and she takes brave, deep-dive looks at herself."
Patterson adds: "There are so many pieces to it where you get to see how complicated she is. And as Viola says, she keeps surprising us in terms of who she is."
Readers should not anticipate a heavy-handed message by the book’s conclusion. "I’m not into messages," Patterson states. "A message means you want people to think something, as opposed to: ‘I want them to think’." Davis echoes this sentiment: "I’m not into messages either – I just want people to come into Union Springs and sit with us for 432 pages."
As for future collaborations, Patterson is "sure" Davis will write more novels and does not rule out a sequel. "Judge Stone survives the book – she’s certainly around for another story."
Judge Stone by James Patterson and Viola Davis is published in hardback by Century, priced £20. It is available now.
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