John Wessel Interview Feb 2002

1) How would you describe your series and Harding?

Hardboiled crime novels, set in Chicago, featuring an excon, exPI and his girflfriend.

2) Why did you choose the Chicago area for the series?

I started the first book when I was living in Cincinnati, and missing Chicago, especially the Hyde Park neighborhood around the university. I wanted to recreate that. I never thought about setting them in Cincinnati.

3) When you write about Harding do you add any of your own characteristics to him?

Since the books are written in the first person present tense a lot of my personality appears in Harding, especially what some call deadpan humor. I like to understate things, and Harding does the same.

4) There are some pretty strange people in the books. Like Richie Dugan. Do you actually know people like them, or are they pure fiction?

Richie Dugan is a composite of several people I know. I don't know killers or pornographers or gangsters but I know some crazy people. And yes a lot of it is fiction, otherwise I'd be writing journalism.

5) Do you have to do a lot of research for your books?

I do as little as possible. I'm not fond of books that are overly researched, I can always spot the author dropping in those tidbits, usually out of place. It's jarring to me, especially when they do it within dialogue.

6) What other jobs have you had besides writing?

The usual litany of temp jobs--fast food, retail etc. I worked for a construction company that built greenhouses for a while. And lots of bookstore jobs. I love bookstores.

7) What’s your favorite part of being a writer? And what’s your least favorite part?

The best part of being a writer is the odd time when you feel you nailed something, that it actually works. It never quite works as well as you'd imagined, though. Still, there's a sense of--look I made this, there was nothing here before--that keeps me going.

8) What made you first want to write, and what prompted you to seek a publisher?

I started writing in junior high school. In the eighth grade everyone was told to write something about how they spent the summer, and i turned in a story set in Berlin about two spys. Why someone wants to write is harder to pin down. As for seeking a publisher, my story is atypical in that I never did, I showed my work to another writer who sent it to her agent etc.

9) While you write, do you have the whole book plotted out ahead of time, or do you let the writing take you along?

I don't outline, I think that would be boring and I'd never follow it anyway. This may explain my plots.

10) What do you think it is about Harding that makes people want to root for him?

Do they? He would be surprised at that, I don't think he has a very high opinion of himself. Maybe it's that he is slow to anger, but when finally awakened comes through for those counting on him.

11) Who are some of your favorite authors?

Don Delillo, William Trevor, Russell Banks, Alice Munro.

12) Do you think the future of publishing is more electronic, or do you think people will always want actual bound paper books?

I think eventually it will be electronic. It just takes several generations of kids growing up where that's routine. Plus, if publishers can make more money that way, the choice will be made for us.

13) Can you say anything about the next book in the series yet?

No, it's bad luck to talk about something you're working on. I think Hemingway said that. If not, you can credit me.

14) What kind of things do you like to do to relax?

I read a lot, I go to movies, I go to the health club. My sky diving, mountain climbing days are over.

15) Do you enjoy doing signings and the conventions?

Yes, very much.

16) Is it hard to go over a first draft and edit your own work?

I am one of those who think writing means rewriting, I redo my stuff endlessly, forty or fifty times, moving a word here, adding one there. The hard part is having someone else edit it.

17) Are your books being published outside the US?

Yes, Kiss It Goodbye has so far been sold to France, Japan, Norway and the UK. I was in Lyon a couple summers ago and saw the French transation of my first book, This Far No Further in a small store and it was a big thrill.

18) Do you think writing mysteries takes more thought or effort than writing straight fiction? And if so, why?

No I don't see why any one genre would require more effort than another.

19) What kind of movies do you enjoy?

Anything that's well written. I loved In the Bedroom. My favorite movie is Days of Heaven. I do like thrillers, mysteries etc. One of my favorite movies is Klute. There's a bit of Donald Sutherland's character in Harding

20) What’s the one thing always in your refrigerator?

Diet Lemon Lipton Ice Tea.