An online return to Sheffield for superstar Jack Reacher author Lee Child

Lee and his biographer Heather Martin will be in conversation live online in the opening event of the city’s Off the Shelf book festival at 7.30pm on Friday, October 9.

The duo were last in the city for Off the Shelf in 2017. Lee was speaking and Heather was in the audience making notes for her biography.

Her book is called The Reacher Guy: The Authorised Biography of Lee Child.

The writer’s 25 books featuring his ex-military policeman hero have sold more than 100 million copies and Tom Cruise has starred in two Jack Reacher films so far.

Lee said: “It is so sad this year that everything has to be held virtually. We’ll do our best to make it just as good.”

He said he was amazed at the changes to the city during his last visit. His brother, fellow best-selling crime writer Andrew Grant (Lee’s real name is James Grant), has been a more frequent visitor as his ex-partner lived in Sheffield with their children, who are now grown up.

That event was Heather’s first trip to Sheffield but she has been back several times since to find out more about Lee’s time at the University of Sheffield in the mid-1970s when he was studying for a law degree.

Theatre stories of migration

He said: “I mainly lived at Crookesmoor Road. I wasn’t on campus all that much, apart from the student union and concerts in the evening.”

The writer called into his favourite chippie off Ecclesall road on one return trip to see his brother when he was in Sheffield. Lee was chuffed to see one of the staff avidly reading his first book, The Killing Floor.

Lee managed to pass his degree despite his various distractions.

His interest in theatre led him to a career in TV production with Granada.

He famously starts each new book on the anniversary of the day he was made redundant.

Lee has decided to retire, so he has come up with a unique solution: passing the torch to brother Andrew.

They will work together initially before Lee steps away from the limelight to enjoy his retirement with his family in their home near New York.

*Watch Lee and Heather in conversation via www.offtheshelf.org.uk

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