James Patterson

On yet another sunny winter day in southern California, Viola Davis is home, and happy to be here. She says she’s a homebody: “Homebody, totally. I’m total introvert,” she said. What does she like about being at home? “I like just being,” she said. “I just like to be regular. I don’t want to put…

Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis often writes book-length biographies for the characters she portrays on screen. And now she’s written an actual book: “Judge Stone,” a courtroom thriller that touches on the lightning-rod issue of abortion, co-authored with bestselling writer James Patterson. Tracy Smith talks with Davis and Patterson about their collaboration, and how Davis’ childhood…