The Determined Society with Shawn French

Episode: "The Evolution of 'Reacher': Andrew Child on 'Exit Strategy'"

Guest: Andrew Child (author of the Reacher series)
Aired: November 14, 2025

Episode Overview

In this insightful episode, host Shawn French sits down with Andrew Child, the author now at the helm of the Jack Reacher series, to discuss the latest book, Exit Strategy. The conversation explores the evolution of Reacher in a modern context, the challenges of writing long-running series, collaboration with his brother Lee Child, and broader themes like determination, artistic identity, and overcoming adversity. Expect frank talk on craft, the balance between realism and escapism, and why it’s crucial to keep pushing—no matter the obstacles.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Keeping Reacher Relevant in a Changing World

• Andrew reflects on nudging Reacher into the present day, highlighting the increasing role of technology, social media, and the realities of monetization.
  • "If you are existing in the world today, doing the kind of things they're doing, what else would be involved? The social media, the monetization, all of that would... be part of it." — Andrew Child [00:33]
• Lee Child wanted Reacher "nudged" into more modern times to avoid feeling outdated, especially after 24 books.
  • “Lee was feeling after he was 24 that maybe Reacher had fallen a little bit... too far behind.” — Andrew Child [07:21]

2. Visualization and Storytelling: Crafting Compelling Fiction

• Shawn praises Andrew’s visual storytelling, saying the novel plays like a movie in his head.
  • “When you’re able to give the reader the art of visualization, it takes the book to another level.” — Shawn French [04:26]
• Andrew discusses finding just enough detail to make scenes vivid without overwhelming the reader, likening it to seasoning a recipe.
  • "The detail you put in is like the spice in a recipe. You want just the right amount." — Andrew Child [05:07]

3. Rooting the Narrative in Emotional Truths

• Andrew designed Exit Strategy so that a genuine plea for help draws Reacher in, emphasizing universal decency.
  • “Despite everything that's going on in the world, people fundamentally still want to help one another.” — Andrew Child [10:07]
• The power of a single word (“please”) shifts Reacher’s mindset and motivation, showcasing the emotional stakes at the heart of the book.
  • “That one word. And actually shifted Reacher’s mindset during the actual meeting to take action and put himself at risk.” — Shawn French [09:15]

4. The Evolution of Supporting Characters & Collaboration

• The “badass” side of a seemingly timid character is revealed, illustrating themes of resilience and growth through collaboration.
  • “When you first meet him, you know, he's at a really low ebb... But, you know, Reacher just steps up and, you know, maybe having Reacher at his side gives him that opportunity to get back to his real self.” — Andrew Child [15:16]
• Reacher’s limitations—especially with technology—allow supporting characters to shine and reflect real-life collaboration.

5. From Page to Screen: Navigating Adaptation

• Andrew shares pride in the Reacher TV adaptation, delighting in how his brother, originally fired from TV, came full circle.
  • “It is. And particularly for my brother, I'm delighted. ...He wound up writing because he got fired from his job and couldn't work in TV anymore. So it's actually lovely for him. We have gone almost full circle.” — Andrew Child [16:42]

6. On Life’s Adversity, Artistic Identity, and Not Burning Bridges

• Lee Child’s career pivot is a story of resilience and non-finality—doors close, but others open.
  • “If you look at it positively, then you can say, well, rather than looking at which doors have closed, you know, which doors have opened as a result...” — Andrew Child [17:55]
• Shawn and Andrew dissect how people often define themselves by their job, warning against this as the sole measure of worth or fulfillment.
  • “What you do should be a way of expressing yourself rather than defining yourself.” — Andrew Child [22:21]

7. Societal Perception and the Pressure of Status

• Both speakers share how society probes “what do you do?” often as a subtle status check.
  • “Sometimes I feel it’s a measuring stick to see if you’re above somebody, on par, or they’re below you.” — Shawn French [23:38]
• Andrew tells of creative friends who choose “lower-status” jobs to enable a life rich in creativity and meaning.
  • “He chooses to drive a bus because then he has time to do other things... and not many people have got the courage to do that.” — Andrew Child [23:52]

8. Writer’s Block, Discipline, and the Creative Process

• Andrew differentiates between genuine writer’s block and moments when your subconscious is signaling a story problem.
  • “The truth is, if writing is your job, then you can't afford to have writer’s block. ... But sometimes your subconscious is helping you and stopping you from making a horrendous mistake.” — Andrew Child [35:10]
• His advice: Show up every day, but be honest—is this a block or an intuition that something’s off?
• Both stress the unpredictability of creative breakthroughs, especially on “off” days.
  • “Sometimes those days where it seems really difficult... you actually come up with your best stuff.” — Andrew Child [39:00]

9. Practical Advice for Pushing Through

• On “zero days”: Take a walk, change your perspective, but don’t give up.
  • “Get up, dress up, show up, but do not give up.” — Andrew Child [39:42]
• Determination and consistency, not raw talent, separate published authors from unpublished ones.

10. The Writing Routine and Letting Ideas Ferment

• Andrew describes a “scene by scene” process—no rigid outlines, but a fluid plan that adjusts as characters and stories evolve.
  • “Each time you finish a scene, you talk about the next one... breaking it down scene by scene and then at the end of each scene planning the next one, I think works great.” — Andrew Child [44:49]
• The importance of letting ideas “ferment” over time, drawing on years of curiosity, rather than just quick research.

11. Travel, Perspective, and Protecting What Matters

• Off-topic but revealing: Andrew and Shawn connect over Ecuador and the Galapagos, reflecting on humanity, conservation, and finding unexpected beauty.
  • “There are moments when you're there where you think—it just shows what the world could be like if people could just stop ruining it.” — Andrew Child [33:33]

12. Defining Determination

• Andrew credits his success to unwavering determination, a lesson handed down from his father.
  • “For me it was just that when I decided to do something, I would never ever stop. ... Determination for me is like, you know, just not giving up, however hard it is.” — Andrew Child [52:24]
  • “There's no such word as can't. ... That was always his mantra.” — Andrew Child [53:44]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Pulling the Reader In:
  “Words—they’re like little hooks. … the idea is that they hook into you and take hold and they drag you through the story from page one through to the end if you’re doing the job right.”
  — Andrew Child [02:26]

• On Artistic Courage:
  “Don’t be afraid, you know, move forward and put your artwork out because the world needs more great artists. … Because a lot of times people look at, you know, some say, Andrew, what are you? I’m an author. No, that’s something that you do. Right. And there has to be a massive opportunity to detach from who you really are to what you do.”
  — Shawn French [21:38]

• On Vulnerability and Human Decency:
  “Despite everything that's going on in the world, it really does seem that people fundamentally still want to help one another, want to be decent to one another. And the idea that somebody, some stranger asks you for help, you know, what would you do? I think most people if they were capable…”
  — Andrew Child [10:07]

• On Social Status and Identity:
  “My parents had this enormous urge for me and my brothers to be respectable and do professional type jobs… I think I would’ve done better and been happier if I could have done something more practical…”
  — Andrew Child [23:52]

• On Overcoming Writer’s Block:
  “It was driving me crazy… I realized that when, you know, when I wasn’t thinking about it, when I was focusing on just setting up the coffee machine. And so then I went back, I wrote an extra little scene… And then it all flowed perfectly. …your brain… can just kind of put its hand on your collar and say, ‘Don’t go down that road yet because you’re going the wrong way.’”
  — Andrew Child [35:10]

• On Determination:
  “You can't help whether or not you're the most talented person in your field, but you can control how determined you are.”
  — Andrew Child [52:24]

Timeline of Major Segments

• 00:00-02:30: Introduction; Andrew on how Exit Strategy was conceived, modern themes
• 04:26-05:07: The art of visual storytelling and the balance of detail
• 07:15-10:07: How technology, social media, and current trends inform the Reacher narrative
• 09:15-10:07: Emotional stakes in Exit Strategy
• 14:30-16:03: Character growth and collaboration with Reacher
• 16:25-19:42: Reacher’s journey from page to TV show; Lee Child’s career resilience
• 22:21-23:52: The trap of identity through profession
• 23:52-26:27: Societal value attached to status and jobs; stories about friends prioritizing creativity over prestige
• 35:10-39:42: Writer’s block, subconscious warnings, and grit in the writing process
• 39:42-42:45: Advice for creators feeling “stuck” or having “zero days”
• 44:49-51:43: Andrew’s writing process; the importance of time and flexible planning
• 52:24-54:49: Andrew’s personal definition of determination; family lessons and perseverance

Tone & Language

The conversation is forthright, encouraging, and practical, infused with British warmth and self-deprecating humor. Both host and guest draw meaning from adversity and dig deep into what it means to create with perseverance in an ever-evolving world.

For New Listeners

This episode is a must-listen for readers, writers, creatives, and anyone interested in the story behind the storied Jack Reacher franchise. Andrew Child’s thoughtful candor, paired with Shawn French’s relatable curiosity, makes for a motivational and down-to-earth exploration of not only how to write—and keep writing—but how to live with determination and integrity.