Interview with Sean P. Haley, Author of An Apology to Lucifer

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write An Apology to Lucifer?

My father and I love books, and we are both huge fans of the Indiana Jones movies. We must have watched those movies a dozen times. Well, at least the first three of those movies.

When the pandemic began, my father called me up and said, “I am going out of my mind watching the news, and so I have this crazy idea. Why don’t we write a book together?” My initial reaction was, “you can’t be serious!” However, he persisted and said, “how many fathers and sons do you know who can claim they wrote a book together?” So we did it. We took our love for books and Indiana Jones and amalgamated them into An Apology to Lucifer.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of An Apology to Lucifer, what would they be?

Oh, such a fun question. For Lucifer, it simply must be “I’ll Be Good” by James Young. The song fits this character so spot on. For Thomas, it would have to be “I Started a Joke” by Bee Gees. And, for Lorenza, it would have to be Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song.”

What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I think we both would have to say Mystery Thrillers.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

There are three: Dean Koontz, Quicksilver, Verity by Colleen Hoover, and The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

My absolute favorite scene in the book takes place when Lorenza Pellegrini, meeting David Wright for the first time, takes him for a walk along the beach, and asks him his thoughts on how all existence started. David’s reply still makes me smile. “Oh, no simple question like where did I grow up or when did I get my first bicycle? Just straight to ‘tell me how the universe was formed.'” The rest of the scene is pure enjoyment for me.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I have a 100-pound golden retriever, Baloo, who usually curls up next to me when I write. I often find myself running a character’s dialogue by him to see if he agrees they would say whatever they happen to be saying at the moment. Over time, I have learned that things need to be rewritten if he gets up and leaves the room afterward.

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

If you google “Steve Jobs’s commencement speech,” you will find a fantastic speech he gave to the Stanford graduating class of 2005. Almost everything he shared in that speech is simply excellent. However, he ends the address by sharing the four words printed on the back cover of the final issue of the Whole Earth Catalog: “Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.” I listened, Steve, I listened.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

Sit back, relax and enjoy. It really is only fiction.

Wayne E. Haley and Sean P. Haley are the authors of the new book An Apology to Lucifer

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