Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
The author is a Professor of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of California’s Medical School at Davis, near Sacramento in Northern California. Jerry writes “tweener” mystery books (tough mystery stories that follow the cozy conventions of no graphic sex and no cussing) that are fast moving and entertain the reader. Several of the books introduce the readers to South America, a region where he has lived and worked that is a long way from home for most English speakers. He and his wife Elaine lived previously in Salta, Argentina and Montevideo, Uruguay. Jerry selects the most interesting South American locations he found for Roger and Suzanne to visit while solving miscellaneous murders. Montevideo, Salta, Machu Picchu, the Galapagos Islands, and Iguazu Falls are also characters in these books, and the novels portray these places as vivid and real. Jerry and Elaine breed prize-winning German shorthaired pointer dogs; Elaine also provides technical advice for Jerry’s dog-related novels like The Deadly Dog Show and Hunter Down, as well as editing for all of the books.
There are presently twelve Roger and Suzanne mystery books available from Amazon Kindle: 7 novels, 3 novellas, 1 short story anthology, and 1 omnibus volume consisting of two of the novels and one of the novellas.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Hunter Down, a suspenseful mystery novel set in Southern California’s exotic world of canine hunt tests.
The book was inspired by my wife Elaine getting me engaged in one of her major interests with our own German shorthaired pointer dogs. The activities, locales, and skills of the dogs seemed an interesting world to drag Roger and Suzanne into to solve another murder mystery.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have a full-time job. That means I write when I can, on a completely erratic schedule. The on-off switch has to function quickly sometimes.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
The great California P.I. novels by the masters–Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, Ross MacDonald and Robert B. Parker’s Spenser series.
What are you working on now?
A new, as yet untitled, novel in the Roger and Suzanne series. They will be asked to solve a murder that takes place in Havana, Cuba. Elaine and I had a chance to visit Cuba on a person-to-person tour a couple of months ago. It seemed like a perfect setting for a novel since so few United States citizens have ever had a chance to go there. The book is about half-way through the first draft.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m not sure. I use Facebook a lot. A substantial number of readers come back to the new books in the series after reading the older books. And, I think, vice versa. The two novels built around dogs as major participants, Hunter Down and The Deadly Dog Show, seem to be especially popular among German shorthaired pointer owners and breeders. These dog owners and breeders seem to find the books by word of mouth recommendations from other dog people.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t quit your day job!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t quit your day job!
What are you reading now?
A serialized novel by Carmen Amato entitled Awakening Macbeth.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Finish the WIP set in Cuba.
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?
Anthologies or collections of mystery novels.
Author Websites and Profiles
Jerold Last Website
Jerold Last Amazon Profile
Jerold Last’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account