What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write The Brothers Brown & Gray?
I love detective novels like John D. MacDonald’s Travis McGee books, and I thought it would be fun to write one. So basically I sat down and dreamed something up. Of course, me being me, I made it quirky.
If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of The Brothers Brown & Gray, what would they be?
Our hero the detective McBride grew up in China so I think he’d be into traditional Chinese music set to a rock and roll beat. His sidekick the mysterious Sylvia likes Miles Davis and John Coltrane.
What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?
I read a lot of classic literature, so no I can’t say I write in that genre!
What books are on your TBR pile right now?
A lot of stuff related to horror, because it’s research for my next book.
What scene in your book was your favorite to write?
Probably the fight scene. I tried to make it fun and scary and a bit of burlesque. Which is what any good fight scene should be, right?
Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)
I like to have an icon on the my desk that represents the book I’m working on. For The Brothers I had a full-scale reproduction of the “dingus” from The Maltese Falcon.
Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?
They’re disbanded now but there was a Chicago funk band called Sonia Dada that I saw a number of times when I lived in Indiana. There’s a lyric from one of their best songs: Ain’t no redemption when you’re stone-cold sane. That speaks to me.
If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?
One of my readers said, “I kept thinking about it later.” That made me happy. I hope my stories hook the reader in some way, keeps them mulling it over.
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