Talking with author Jodi Picoult

Jodi Picoult writes about big issues -- from Asperger's syndrome to marital strife, from genetically engineered children to teen suicide pacts. Her 19th book, "Lone Wolf" (Emily Bestler Books/ Atria, $28), raises tough end-of-life questions. Luke Warren's children must decide whether to keep him on life support after a car crash. Interwoven in the agonizing debate are Luke's flashbacks to his life's passion of studying, raising and living among wolves.

Nesconset native Picoult will be reading from and signing copies of "Lone Wolf" at Huntington High School on Friday at an event sponsored by Book Revue. We spoke with Picoult by telephone.

Why wolves?

For me the story really began with the right to die. On a plane 10 years ago I was sitting next to a neurologist discussing end-of-life care and terminating life support. I said to him, "I am going to write that book one day." And years later I called him. I began doing research with him and talking about the medical side of the story. I knew I was going to have two siblings with competing interests when it came to their father's health care.

One day I woke up thinking about wolves. I realized that a wolf pack is a family, that everyone has a role and as long as you do that role, everyone functions. When you stop, the family falls apart. Suddenly, I realized I had a metaphor for the main character.

What message would you like to send readers about end-of-life issues?

Nobody wants to have this conversation, but you have to. If you take the time now to talk to a spouse and children about what you'd want in this situation, you're giving them a gift by not having them have to make a choice for you later on. It takes the burden off of them. When it's too late, you can't have that conversation.

Some of the descriptions of Luke living among wolves -- eating with them, for example, are shocking.

Yes. When I did my research, I thought I created a character who is fairly unique. Then I found out there's a real, live man who does this, Shaun Ellis, who lived with a pack of wolves in the Rockies for a year. I met with him and met with his wolves. All the stuff that happens in the book is adapted from experiences that he's had.

I said to him, "What's it like when a wolf brings you a haunch of buffalo and that's your dinner?" He said, "It's slimy and it's been urinated on." I was stunned, but I wanted it to be as realistic as possible.

If you were casting "Lone Wolf" as a movie, who would play Luke?

(Laughing.) I have so not thought about that! Russell Crowe would probably do a good job. It'd have to be someone rugged.