Naughty Nikki
Administrator
Global user
Registered: 06-2007
Posts: 462
Karma: 2 (+2/-0)
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
 INTERVIEW WITH BEST-SELLING THRILLER WRITER JOSEPH FINDER
The Realm You have done fascinating things that anyone can read about by a simple visit to your website, I won't say a quick visit because I've spent hours there. You had to be determined and, to use your own words from another interview, stubborn to see the success you have today, but I wonder if there was any one person, someone you idolized and wanted to be most like or please, that you would credit for the encouragement you needed to help make your success a reality?
Joe That's a tough question. I received some very important encouragement from a number of writers, including Nelson DeMille, Dean Koontz, and Daniel Silva, at a time when I was really having trouble in my career. It's not that I wanted to please them, but they helped me think more clearly about what I wanted to achieve, and how to do it.
I have a number of other writer friends who have been immensely helpful when I want to brainstorm, including James Patterson, Lee Child and Harlan Coben.
There aren't that many writers who understand that junction of business and creativity. I feel like it's a writer's job to help other writers, because there is no established career track.
The Realm Speaking of people, you have interviewed and spent time with pickpockets, KGB, CIA, and FBI agents, a Nazi Hunter, best-selling authors, Hollywood celebrities, and famous singers. I also know you recently had a major Fan-Boy experience and met Judy Collins, a long-time hero of yours. Was meeting Judy the highlight of your life to date, or is there a brighter moment you can tell us about?
Joe Was meeting Judy Collins the highlight of my life? No, watching my daughter being born probably was but I loved meeting Judy Collins. I've loved spending time with my sources. And honestly, I love talking to readers at bookstores; it's flattering and very fulfilling.
The Realm You mention on your website an occasion where you received a phone call from a KGB agent darkly warning you against your project at that time. Obviously you did not let it stop you, but what was running through your mind in those moments? Fear or excitement that you had obviously hit on something?
Joe Both. I was too young to really be sensible about that. If I'd been sensible, I'd never have gone to Moscow; I could have been thrown into the Lubyanka. I look back on that and say I never should have done it, but I'd never have gotten the book otherwise.
The Realm You get your ideas from all over the place; you do considerable research, and pre-plot your books to a great degree. Do you ever experience writer's block? Do you even believe in it?
Joe Nope. Plumbers don't get plumber's block you never hear a plumber say "Oh, I'm not really moved to install that sink today." If for some reason a scene's not working, it's not writer's block it's a structural problem. It tells me I haven't figured the story out.
The Realm When you were starting out on the writing path, did you ever seek out writing contests? Would you recommend them to beginning writers?
Joe I don't know anything about contests. I'd be leery, because a lot of them are scams. Then again, there are a few like St. Martin's that lead to contracts, so I¹d just say, "Be careful."
The Realm You've said that you do not talk about a new project until you are well into it. Does that mean that you do all your plotting and brainstorming in your head? Or do you have someone you use as a sounding board?
JoeI do my plotting and brainstorming sitting at the computer. I write notes and I outline, and I very often brainstorm with my brother Henry, who is the editorial director of The New Yorker.
The Realm You are no doubt asked all the time what advice you have for beginning writers. You've said in the interview on your website that the book has to actually be written. Writers need to read and study the sort of novel they want to write, read it several times, tear it apart and analyze it. Gripping people at the beginning of the book is key, and if a writer fails at that then the chances are slim they'll sell a lot of books. You've also said that you lost count of how many times you rewrote The Moscow Club. Can you tell us how long it took for you to learn the lessons that first got your work noticed?
Joe It took me three years to write the first novel, but the fact is that every year I learn more about what makes a book good. I'm always learning. It hasn't stopped.
The Realm "You¹ve got to be extremely persistent stubborn even." I love this quote from you, because so few people grasp the truth of the statement. With that determination, you have done amazing things with your writing. I know you will not tell us about your next book, and with Power Play and your busy promotional tour coming up, I'm sure you're directing your energy in a number of directions. Can you tell us what you see next for yourself? Is there something on your list of life achievements that you have yet to accomplish?
JoeWell, I would like to create a TV series. I would like to someday run a marathon I'm not training, but it's something I'd like to try someday. I would like to learn how to play piano.
The Realm Will you share with us an anecdote about your life or career that you haven't thought to share before? Something that stands out either as an inspiration, or a lesson learned?
Joe I'm not sure whether I've told this one before but when I was trying to get an agent for my first novel, I sent it to a big agent who represented a major bestselling author. He sent it back to me with a paper clip on page 55. The letter said, "Dear Mr. Finder, the paper clip represents where I stopped reading. Editors have to be grabbed right away, or they¹ll give up."
I sent it to another agent who called me and said, "I really liked the book would you be willing to cut the first 80 pages?" I did, and the agent took me on. The moral of the story: go with an agent who's willing to stick with you. Just because an agent turns you down doesn't mean the book's no good.
That first agent, by the way, later tried to recruit me.
The Realm Finally, as you are getting ready to release Power Play at the end of August and go on tour to promote it, what are your hopes for this book? Do you always have the same aspirations for your stories?
Joe I would like to increase my readership and reach a lot more people I always like to grow my readership, book to book. I want to reach more women readers, especially the ones who assume that thrillers aren't for them.
With each book I try to do something different or better. With POWER PLAY, I wanted to write a story that took corporate intrigue out of the office and opened it up, and was much more action-packed. I wanted the hero to be someone people could root for without ambivalence, and I wanted a strong female character who was integral to the plot. POWER PLAY actually has two of them: the female CEO and the hero¹s ex-girlfriend, Ali, who turns out to be as strong as the hero and in some ways even smarter.
Last edited by Naughty Nikki, 8/14/2007, 12:39 pm
--- Naughty Nikki Duncan
The sensuous side of suspense and magic.
www.nikkiduncan.com |
