Interview with Harvey Church, author of Alibi Aficionado

by grant

in Author Interviews, Mystery, News

16 Oct 2017

What can you tell us about your new release, Alibi Aficionado?

Alibi Aficionado tells the story of an unwilling investigator, Edwin Burrows. Formally trained as an accountant, Edwin isn’t exactly the “best person for the job.” In fact, his accounting firm puts him on the case of finding an alibi for their biggest client with the expectation that he will fail. And that failure will be their reason, once and for all, to fire him and be done with him. Even though Edwin has failed at a lot of things (including his accounting courses), he has a magical way of solving puzzles (with the help of his sidekick).

What’s the last book you read?

Let it Go by Harlan Coben. I’m an avid Coben fan; in fact, his earlier Myron Bolitar novels, with their mix of puerile humor and great yet clumsy investigative work, were something I tried to emulate with my Edwin Burrows series.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

Like a lot of indie authors, I’ve dreamed of achieving fame and fortune as an author since I was quite young. Although I haven’t quite reached that goal just yet, they say it’s the journey that counts, not so much the destination. So, I’m enjoying this “journey” as best as I can.

Who is your favorite fictional character from literature?

I always enjoyed Archy McNally from Lawrence Sanders’ series. I found him a lovable, clever, and funny investigator. Stone Barrington (Stuart Woods), Myron Bolitar (Harlan Coben), and especially Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro from Dennis Lehane’s novels have helped shape my own characters and my own, personal view of the world more than I could ever express.

What’s your favorite thing about writing?

I enjoy researching, talking to people about the different aspects of a story’s details. There’s also the quiet time with nothing but the clacking of keyboard keys to keep me company. It’s all a pretty good gig, with very few sad, bad, or resentful spells.

If you had an extra hour each day, how would you spend it?

Reading. When I’m not writing, I’m reading, but there’s never enough time for it to all get done. Plus, as a slow reader, an extra hour would be good…but an extra ten would be great.

What scene in Alibi Aficionado was your favorite to write?

Although there were so many, I have to pick one of the earlier scenes where Edwin is sneaking out of his boss’s daughter’s apartment after a staff Christmas party. Of course, his boss notices him and immediately jumps to the conclusion that Edwin is romantically involved with his only child, an incorrect assumption that causes real tension throughout the rest of the novel (at the two, so far, that follow).

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

“There is no finish line.”