Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve published five murder mysteries, with my sleuths ranging from a street cop and a fiery woman bail bond agent, to a former big city detective caught up in cattle rustling and murder in contemporary Wyoming. I’ve published with large traditional publishers (St. Martin’s Press), small publishers, and now independently. I recently started writing short stories and two have been published so far in Mystery Weekly. I put up another short story free on my website. Previously, I was a full-time freelance writer, publishing articles in such magazines as Parade, TV Guide, Popular Mechanics, and in-flight magazines, along with countless other writing gigs.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Big Dive is the sequel to my award-winning Murder on the Tracks. My protagonist is Joe Stryker, a street cop in 1951 Denver. His partner is brutally slain almost in front of his eyes—the second time in Joe’s headline-grabbing career a partner has been killed. How did the killer pull off such a brazen murder and escape? And why was his “choir boy” partner murdered while burglarizing a pawnshop? To protect his dead partner’s reputation and save his own career while trying to solve his partner’s murder, Joe conceals his investigation from his new partner, his superiors, even his wife, who hates his being a cop. All while dodging a homicide detective hell-bent to pin the crimes on him.
Two true historical events inspired the novel, whose threads run through the plot. In the early 1960s, dozens of Denver police officers were arrested for running burglary rings in the city. A national scandal. Some rings went back years, so I “borrowed” from the events, including the book’s title. The second plot thread involves a dark secret that goes back to the shameful internment of Japanese-American citizens in relocation camps during World War II, including a camp in Colorado. I loved doing the historical research.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Nothing more unusual that putting my butt in the chair and writing. In my younger days, I would write until 2 a.m., but now I write in the afternoon. While I wouldn’t call it unusual, I brainstorm particularly well when I’m driving alone in my car. I carry a digital recorder with me so I can capture those moments of inspiration without running down pedestrians.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
My single biggest influence was Raymond Chandler, particularly his book Farewell, My Lovely. I love his mood, his hard-boiled private eye, and his use of language. My two Joe Stryker books are homages to Chandler. When I set up to publish independently, I named my publishing company, Big Sleep Press, after his first published novel. Current authors I admire are mystery icons Michael Connelly and James Lee Burke. My mysteries are whodunits, laying out the clues fairly so readers have a crack at solving the mystery before my sleuth does. Much of that approach derived from my reading the early greats such as Agatha Christie and Ellery Queen. I also read Erle Stanley Gardner of Perry Mason fame, whose paperbacks (100 of them) I inherited from my grandfather.
What are you working on now?
I’m in the final editing stages of another stand-alone mystery. David Dartman is a former investigative reporter and true crime writer currently making a humdrum living writing corporate histories. When the widow of his best friend insists her husband’s suicide was in fact murder, David reluctantly agrees to poke around. He not only doubts her suspicions, he doesn’t have time in his rat-race Denver suburban family life for murder (which sounds suspiciously like the life of the author). But his initial investigation and a string of bizarre, brutal killings unearth uncomfortable truths regarding his friend’s death—truths that jeopardize David’s marriage and his life, and force him to realize that life is more than one long ToDo list.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I wish I had a brilliant answer for that. My bank account would really appreciate it. I’m concentrating hard right now on building my email list. We’ll see.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write because you love writing, you love creating characters and stories–not because you think it would be cool to be the next Stephen King (there’s only one of him). One night at the family dinner table, I was going on about my main character in one of my books and my son said, “Dad, you make her sound as if she’s a real person.” That’s how much you have to love writing. Most people who “want to write” don’t have the discipline and the “hunger” to put butt in chair and bleed words onto the page. Writing fiction (or nonfiction) is not easy. It’s not like writing out a long grocery list. It’s hard work, often with little payoff in either fans or money. Though at least independent publishing has opened up more opportunities to writers.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write, rewrite, repeat.
What are you reading now?
Tanya French’s best-selling, award-winning debut mystery In the Woods.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Besides editing my latest mystery, I’m tackling a crime novella. It’s about a disgraced former homicide detective turned private investigator who’s hired to solve the perfect murder. He sees it as his chance at redemption, but his investigation leads him to a place he never imagined. I intend to give away the novella to readers for signing up on my email list.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Books that are damn long, that’s for sure. Say, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Lord of the Rings (in a single volume as originally intended), A Game of Thrones, and The Pillars of the Earth. Though if I’m going to stranded on this island for very long, I would prefer pads of paper and lots of pens to write my own long book.
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