That’s so unfair… It’s almost impossible for me to choose. James Cain, Raymond Chandler, Sara Paretsky, Stuart Kaminsky, Mo Hayder, Daniel Silva, Val McDermid, Daniel Woodrell, Don Winslow, William Kent Krueger… that’s just the top of the list as far as crime fiction goes…
2.Who has had a major influence on your writing?
My writing group, which we call The Red Herrings. I’ve been in it over 16 years and they’ll take me out of it feet first. They helped shaped my writing in ways for which I will always be grateful.
3.Can you name at least one book that you never finished?
Death Comes to Pemberly by PD James (sorry!)
4.What word or words do you always have trouble spelling?
Deprecating… I always spell it depreciating…
5.What three adjectives best describe you?
Curious, relentless, funny
6.Which of your characters would you most like to be and why?
Rain, from Set the Night on Fire… she was an outsider because of her photography, but she had her own set of values that never wavered.
7.Which author would you invite to dinner?
Daniel Silva. I have a lot of questions for him.
8.Where do you write?
In my office.
9.When do you write?
Trick question. I used to be more disclipined and would write in the mornings. I’m not that rigorous any more. Wish I were.
10.What makes you happy?
My kids being happy. And chocolate. Preferably hot fudge.
11.What do you most fear?
Bees. Nightmares. Fires. Nuclear winter.
12.What is your favorite vice?
White Wine.
13.What is the quality you most like in yourself?
My ability to bounce back from adversity.
14.What are the qualities you most like in your friends?
Their patience in dealing with me.
15.Would you be lying if you said your works were not autobiographical?
No. They’re not. My characters are much more courageous, principled, and articulate than I.
16.What part of your personality do you detest?
My lack of discipline.
17.What is your favorite adjective?
“Crystalline.” Also “limpid.” Haven’t used either in a book.
18.What is your favorite book?
Whatever I’m reading at the moment. And To Kill A Mockingbird.
19.What book would you read three times?
To Kill A Mockingbird
20.To whom would you award the Nobel Prize for Literature and why?
I couldn’t possibly decide. First off, I’m not that well read. Second, different books have different objectives, messages, and effects. How could I select just one book or one author? It doesn’t seem fair.
