News 9's Dino Lalli Discusses Interview With 'Eruption' Co-Author James Patterson

"Eruption," a new book left unfinished following the death of its author, Michael Crichton, has now been published following an effort to finalize the incomplete manuscript.

Crichton, author of "Jurassic Park" and "The Andromeda Strain," died after a battle with lymphoma in 2008. Through the efforts of Sherri Crichton, his widow, as well as fellow author James Patterson, author of the "Alex Cross" series of novels and several other series of books, one of Crichton's works is finally seeing the light of day.

News 9's Dino Lalli sat down with Sherri Crichton and James Patterson to discuss their work on the newly-released novel.

The book's premise, covering a volcanic eruption in Hawaii, is tied to a mystery the cast of characters must uncover.

"Michael already always spoke of this volcano story he was working on, no matter if we were hiking somewhere in Hawaii, or like [James] reminds me, I was in Pompeii on our honeymoon," Crichton said. "Research and romance go hand-in-hand."

Crichton said she later found her husband's manuscripts following his death and said she knew they were meant to be finished.

"When I found the partial manuscript... it really touched me because it was so close to his heart," Crichton said. "As I was turning the pages and everything, I was just like 'it can't end, I don't want it to end, but I need to know what's next.'"

After searching for the end of the manuscript that later became "Eruption," Crichton said she got in contact with author James Patterson.

"When I read the partial manuscript, it had this incredible double story," Patterson said. "This volcano that threatened to destroy the island of Hawaii... and this toxic waste that had been buried there."

Patterson said he was enthralled by the book's premise and desired to work to its completion.

Crichton said although her husband passed before the birth of their son, John Michael, she said she hopes by completing the novel their son will be able to "appreciate who his father was."

"Everybody knows who Michael Creighton is but for John Michael," Crichton said. "So bringing his father to life for him through the pages of his original manuscript through all the research that was in the archive, to all the different tactics Michael used, to see it now come through a collaboration with [James]."