1. Tell us about your current novel.
There are a couple of things that will become available
soon. One is the complete version of the ROAD TO PERDITION novel. It was
written in 2002 to accompany the release of the film, but DreamWorks licensing
made me do a drastic cutting/rewrite, eliminating 30,000 words and any dialogue
or action that wasn't included in the book. I am very grateful to Brash Books
for negotiating with DreamWorks for the real, complete novel to finally be
published.
About the same time, Hard Case Crime will be bringing out
QUARRY IN THE BLACK, obviously a new Quarry novel with what I think or hope is
an interesting setting -- George McGovern's presidential campaign and a black
leader in St. Louis who is supporting that ticket with public appearances. If
you ever wanted to see how Quarry would behave at a Ku Klux Klan meeting, now
is your chance.
And Otto Penzler is bringing out A LONG TIME DEAD,
collecting eight Mike Hammer short stories that I developed from Spillane
fragments. That's exciting in part because there's never been a Hammer short
story collection before.
2. Can you give a sense of what you're working on now?
I just finished a Mike Hammer novel, THE WILL TO KILL,
working from a few chapters in Mickey Spillane's files. It's very unusual for a
Hammer, because the mystery is right out of Agatha Christie, with greedy
children fighting over the proceeds of a murdered patriarch's estate.
Not too long before that, I did my pass on the new Barbara Allan mystery, ANTIQUES FRAME, co-written with my wife Barb. That was my first
project after open-heart surgery and a minor stroke, and it was very gratifying
to be able to get back up on the horse and ride so quickly. just weeks after
the surgery.
Next up is EXECUTIVE ORDER, the third Reeder and Rogers political
thriller, in collaboration with Matt Clemens.
3. What is the greatest pleasure of a writing career?
The greatest pleasure of a writing career is having one. The notion that I could ever hold down a
normal job is highly suspect.
4. What is the greatest DISpleasure?
I don't know if there's a dis-pleasure for me. I really love
this life. The things that frustrate me are minor in the bigger picture. For
example, I despise having copy editors rewrite me, and have spent way too much
time in my life putting various Humpty Dumptys back together. It's always
disappointing when a novel is critically ignored or particularly when the
public ignores it. When a publisher drops a series, it can be crushing—I had
to wait ten years before I felt I could re-launch Nathan Heller, and a lot of
time was lost there.
5. If you have one piece of advice for the publishing world,
what is it?
For the publishing world itself? Don't judge an author by
how well his or her last book sold. Judge each book on its own merits, and that
includes proposed novels from authors whose professionalism isn't in
question.
6. Are there two or three forgotten mystery writers you'd
like to see in print again?
So many of my favorites are back in print again in the POD
and e-book fashion. But it would be nice
to see Horace McCoy, Mike Roscoe and Roy Huggins out there in a more major
way. I was pleased to see Ennis Willie
finally get some attention, but unfortunately it's faded somewhat.
7. Tell us about selling your first novel. Most writers
never forget that moment.
Mine is easy to remember. I got the letter (my agent at the
time never called me) on Dec. 24, 1971—BAIT MONEY, the first Nolan novel, had
sold on Christmas Eve! When I told Donald E. Westlake about it—he'd been a
mentor to me—he said, "Sometimes God behaves like O. Henry, and there's
nothing you can do about it."
