*By Jacqueline Corba*
James Patterson is a fixture on the vaunted New York Times bestseller list. But this year, the author of canon thrillers like "Juror #3," "Pop Goes the Weasel," "Zoo," "Jack & Jill," and the "Alex Cross" series is using an unlikely platform to deliver his latest work: Facebook Messenger.
"I call it unofficially 'a bookie.' It's a book meets a movie, there's a lot of text and then video," Patterson told Cheddar Monday. "Nobody has done that before."
Patterson, whose books are often adapted into films, said his latest work, "The Chef," will yield "a 360 experience."
For Patterson, sustaining his readership is a matter of staying current. And that means the web.
"It's so important to me that books keep up ー that they enter the modern age and who knows where it's going to end up. But wherever it goes a lot of it will end up online," he said.
The goal, he said, is to drive more readers to new platforms ー but ideally, the format will allow his fans to have a more immersive experience with his stories.
On Facebook ($FB), embedded videos and clues will enhance Patterson's latest whodunit.
"Unfortunately, the publishing business has been a little sleepy, and we keep trying to wake 'em up," he said.
Patterson's murder mystery "The Chef" will be available on Facebook Messenger on Oct. 30 and the print edition will be available in February of 2019.
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/why-james-patterson-is-teaming-up-with-facebook-for-his-latest-novel).
Paramount Global is set to absorb Showtime into Paramount+, creating a single streaming option to compete with the likes of Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max. The company also plans to raise the monthly price from $9.99 to $11.99 per month after the integration.
HBO released a sneak peek of next week's series finale for 'Succession' after four seasons.
Dua Lipa is teasing her new single from the upcoming 'Barbie' movie.
Warner Bros. released the official trailer for the upcoming musical film, 'The Color Purple,' based on the novel and 1985 original film.
Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. noticed a young boy who had a sign that read he had beaten cancer. Guerrero decided to surprise the young fan.
From the newest 'American Idol' to the end of a 'Bill & Ted's' hot spot, here are your top entertainment headlines.
Cheddar's own Shannon LaNier is taking a staycation, and all week he'll be trying out different summer activities in New York and the surrounding area that will hopefully serve as an inspiration no matter where you live. On Monday, Shannon traveled to Huntington, New York to get a taste of the boating life. He spoke with Maggie Maskery, head of public relations for Discover Boating, about some of the best boat share options.
A guitar destroyed by Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain sold for nearly $600,000 dollars on Saturday at an auction in a Hard Rock Café in New York City.
Scores of Boston University students turned their backs on the head of one of Hollywood's biggest studios, and some shouted “pay your writers,” as he gave the school's commencement address Sunday in a stadium where protesters supporting the Hollywood writers' strike picketed outside.
The laws are “openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals," the NAACP wrote over the weekend.
