Interview: Jeffrey Deaver

I have been an avid reader of Jeffrey Deaver since I first happened upon one of his works, Manhattan Is My Beat just after I got released from college back in 1989. His style seemed to be like conversation and the flow carried me through the work like nothing I had read prior to it. I have read most all of his work and I was ecstatic when I sent him an email requesting an interview and he responded with a resounding and down to earth, yes.

Without further adieu, as you can certainly find his biography online, I present to you, my interview with Best Selling Author, six time Edgar Award nominee, Anthony Award winner, Gumshoe Award winner, three time winner of the Ellery Queen Reader's Award for Best Short Story of the Year, W.H. Smith Thumping Good Read Award winner, Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award winner, and a host of others kudos and recognitions; Jeffrey Deaver.

Writing seems to have been a part of your life for so long, was there ever a time you thought about giving it up? Never. I enjoy it too much.

You seem to have a largely literary and legal educational background. If you hadn't become a successful writer is there another avenue you would've wanted to pursue? Probably television or movies. I love story telling.

Your grasp of forensics seems quite thorough. Do you ever have someone from the specific field of study you are portraying work with you for continuity or realism? No, I do most of the research myself, and I try hard to keep things accurate. It's not too difficult because you don't want to get too technical. That can lose readers.

To which specific artist or artists do you most often listen when writing? I don't listen much when I'm actually writing, but when I'm editing or proofreading, I'll listen to instrumental: classical, jazz and Celtic are my favorites. Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Wynton Marsalis, any Beethoven, Bach or romantic era composer, Natalie McMaster, Derek Bell, any other Celtic harpist or fiddle player.

Is there a difference in which music you listen to when you are writing as opposed to not writing? It's pretty much the same, only when I'm not writing, they can sing. I like a good country-western tune occasionally, too (I just wrote one for a short-story anthology--A Merry Band of Murderers).

Have you ever completed a novel and upon reviewing the work decided you would not publish it? Yes, my first two, which were terrible. I destroyed them. For the past 20 years, though, I always outline the book first before I write, so I'll know if it won't work.

Is there a specific subject you would like to write about, but don't feel comfortable with the subject matter or maybe even how your readers would react to it? Nothing I would like to write about but wouldn't, since I write for my readers exclusively. And writing something that would trouble or disappoint them would be a no-no. I think some readers would like more explicit violence, but I'm convinced that the majority of readers prefer suspense to gore.

What is your favorite city? NYC.

Everyone seems to have a comfort food or drink they turn to when they are sick or lonely or sad or what have you, what is/are yours? I'm not a sweet person. Give me potato chips and a white Burgundy. Two important food groups.

Fans can sometimes be a bit over zealous, was there a time one of your fans became a fanatic and did something that made you uncomfortable or even something that made you laugh? Oh, I've had stalkers. Like the attractive young woman who asked me out for coffee after an event and proceeded to tell me how all the TV networks had listening devices in her home and office and wanted me to write an expose of it!

You list Robert Frost as a favorite author. Is there a specific work with which you find solace or pleasure? His whole body is so amazing; it transcends a single poem. I do especially like Birches; For Once, Then, Something; and Stopping By Woods.

Have you ever considered a joint project with your sister? We've talked about it, but our genres are very different.

What prompted you to incorporate a character with a handicap into your work as the hero or co-hero as it were? I wanted to create a new Sherlock Holmes, someone who was purely cerebral.

You have written a few works under the pen/sur name William Jefferies. How many pen names have you written under and do you recall them all and how you came to use them? I only used that name for a few books. It was a legal matter. I was writing two books a year and couldn't legally publish with a different company under my real name; it would be a breach of contract with my primary publisher.

I know this question gets asked too often and it can be a bit morose, but if you had to write your own epitaph, what would it say and why? He told good stories.

Has production begun on The Blue Nowhere (Joel Silver-Warner Brothers), Manhattan is My Beat (John/Lisa Bishop-Double B Productions), or The Devils Teardrop. Everything is still "in development." Whatever that means. Welcome to Hollywood!

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