My Latest Radio Interview
I really enjoyed my interview on LA Talk Radio’s “The Writer’s Block” show on March 31 . The Writer’s Block interviews a wide range of terrific writers every week talking about their work, and I was honored to be a part of it.
Click here to listen to my interview.
Hosts Jim Christina and Bobbi Jean Bell had both read The Lies That Bind (the first book in my DarkHorse Trilogy) and were very perceptive, even down to the novel’s nuances, from subtle to overt. We discussed much during the hour-long program, including many of the novel’s secrets, twists and turns. But, of course, none of us exposed the book’s most startling, and critical, secret. That readers have to discover on their own!
The show focuses primarily on the craft of writing, with incisive questions. I highly recommend the podcasts to both experienced and aspiring writers. I especially enjoyed their January 7 interview with Craig Johnson, creator of the Walt Longmire Mysteries, and the main character in the Longmire TV series. Craig himself is an interesting character—although, he is a real person. The show also interviewed my literary agent, Jeanie Loiacano, on February 24. Fascinating!
In my interview, the three of us had a big laugh discussing one of The Lies That Bind’s minor, but colorful, characters, Ellen—and the Honor Store she runs with her grandfather, a Senior Deacon in the local church. Everyone I talk to seems to love unworldly young Ellen. And so do I. From a practical point of view, the Honor Store seems to make little sense, and anyone who knows anything about business can tell it’s designed (unintentionally) to fail as an enterprise. Fortunately, as Bobbi Jean pointed out, Ellen makes a few dollars on the side handling the town’s records that are considered too “unimportant” to be sent all the way to the county seat. These include manumission documents that would free slaves!
Ellen and her grandfather are idealists in the purest sense. Whereas the other characters in the book tell and live lies in order to survive, Ellen and her grandfather are the opposite, clinging to absolute convictions, regardless of the worldly consequences.
Ellen and the Honor Store were inspired additions to the book, which I came up with when composing the scenes. I don’t know where they came from, but they were really fun to write, and apparently everyone is having real fun reading about them. Ellen doesn’t appear often in the novel, but she does serve to bracket key elements of the story. And she’s a nice break from the story’s tension.
Coming Attractions!
April 12: I’ll be doing a seven-minute reading from Honor Among Outcasts (the second book in my DarkHorse Trilogy), during St. Louis Writers Guild's monthly open mic night. Book 2 is scheduled to be published in 2017, and the feedback I’ll get from fellow writers should be worthwhile.
April 18-22: Shakespeare Week on Goodreads! - celebrating The Bard's literary legacy and 400th anniversary. I plan to participate in #ShakespeareWeek.
April 28: I’ll be reading from The Lies That Bind at Subterranean Books in St. Louis' University City Loop. Details.
April 30: Independent Bookstore Day - a good time to visit your local independent bookstore. Find a local bookstore here.
Thurs., June 23: I’ll be reading from The Lies That Bind at Left Bank Books in St. Louis’ Central West End. Details.