Author Spotlight: Michael Connelly

Interview with A. Reinhardt of Abebooks

Bestselling author Michael Connelly started his successful career with his award-winning crime novels introducing the LAPD Detective Harry (Hieronymus) Bosch.

Today Connelly is considered a charter member in the premier league of American thriller authors. His novel The Poet was a roaring success in North America and Europe, and another novel, Bloodwork has been made into a movie by Clint Eastwood and will be released in European cinemas this year.

Connelly´s novel Void Moon introduced his first female leading character, Masterthief Cassie Black. Abebooks is proud to present an interview with Michael Connelly.

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ABE: Mr. Connelly, regarding "Void Moon" what was it like to write from a woman's perspective?

M.C.: It was not the biggest challenge. Basically I wanted to write about somebody who is an absolute expert in her or his profession. And Cassie Black is a professional thief, so I spent more time on thinking, how her skills could bring her through the plot than about any specific "female view". In fact, the greater challenge was to make her a sympathetic person.

ABE: Where did you get this idea?

M.C.: Cassie Black is modelled on a real example. Discussing with police detectives I heard of so-called "hot prowlers": burglars, who go into hotel rooms stealing money, jewelry etc., while people are asleep. In particular the hot prowler I heard of was specialized on Las Vegas Casinos and never got caught.

ABE: Did you do a lot of research on the setting?

M.C.: Not really. I spent several days in Vegas talking to security specialists at the biggest hotels on the Sunset Strip, and I roamed a bit, but that's all. Unlike other authors I don´t like to do years of research before I start writing a book. I look for information whenever I get to that point of a story, where I need some background information.

ABE: An interesting method to work. Could you tell more about your writing routine?

M.C.: Usually I start early mornings around 5am and work until noon. I have a special room upstairs in my house with a billiard table and thick curtains. My wife calles this my "cave" that I have to go into to start work. I write almost everyday, even if I travel as I do now. Besides my "cave" I also have no problem working on my laptop in a hotel room.

ABE: When did you start your career as an author?

M.C.: Before I had my first big success with "The Black Echo" I worked several years as a criminal reporter for the Los Angeles Times and other magazines. Before this I studied Journalism in Florida. So I think this was a good preparation for my present life.

ABE: Did you start to work exclusively as an author from day one, when "Black Echo" was such a huge success?

M.C.: My first three books were written while I still had my fulltime job as a journalist. I made a deal with my wife: to write 4 nights a week and on Saturdays. Sunday was our holiday.

That time I thought I could write more books if I could afford to be just an author, but it´s funny: now I have much more time to write but still need the same time to complete a book.

ABE: What are your favourite crime authors? Do you have any role models?

M.C.: Raymond Chandler was one of the authors who inspired me to become a writer of my own. I still love his work. Other authors I really esteem are Ross McDonald, Elmore Leonard and Joseph Wambaugh. As you can see I like "hardboiled" novels the most, but I also read the classic "who-dunnits" like Agatha Christie. My mother loved her novels and they were my reading when I was a child.

To be honest, the last years I chiefly read biographies or non-fiction. Since I became an author I can't really relax by reading fiction. It keeps me constantly thinking about the plot, the setting and characters.

ABE: Mr. Connelly, many thanks for this interview.