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Interview with mystery writer John Straley
By Tom Doran
Whalesong Contributor
Alaskan mystery writer
John Straley is the author of six books in print. John’s first
book, “The Woman Who Married A Bear” won a “Shamus
Award” in 1996. His series follows the adventures of Alaskan
private detective Cecil Younger. Straley grew up in the Seattle
area and went to high school in New York City. He spent summers
in Eastern Washington and worked in the Pasayten Wilderness in Eastern
Washington. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1977
and now lives in Sitka with his wife Janice, a marine biologist,
and their son Finn. He writes and also runs a private investigation
business. Although he is dyslexic and a terrible speller, he writes
two thousand words a day. His latest book, “Cold Water Burning,”
was one of five books nominated for best mystery of the year. Join
us for an interview with Alaskan author John Straley.
How did you wind up in Alaska?
I was working in Eastern Washington as a horse shoer
and also working in a sawmill. I was also trying to write a book
of poetry. In 1977 my wife got a job in Sitka for the Fish and Wildlife
Service. It surprised me when she came up here for the job, but
she did. She had always wanted to come to Alaska.
What is the best advice you would give to people
who want to be writers?
Finish the things you start and keep reading-and read
widely, lots of different things. It always makes me bristle when
somebody says they want to be a writer but then says “I don’t
read mysteries,” or “I never read science fiction,”
“or mainstream fiction.” I think you should read as much
as you can; see how successful books work. By successful I mean
books that you read and get lost in. Then try to emulate that. Keep
writing no matter what.
How long does it take to write a book and what are the steps for
doing a book project?
For my novels, first there is a lot of “staring out the window
time.” Then there is reading and research time and that can
take anywhere from a few months to a lifetime. Once I actually get
started writing, I spend a little time on a vague outline: plot
points and things I want in the story, but the outline is not really
set in stone. I’ll start in on a rough draft and write two
thousand words a day, straight through five days a week. I just
work it like a regular job. By the end of about four months I have
a rough draft of a book of about a hundred thousand words or so.
Then it takes about three times as long to do the revision on that.
So, if the rough draft takes three months it will take me at least
nine months to revise it.
Would you like to publish a book of your poems?
Oh sure! I’m sending my poems around more and I’m
writing more. I enjoy that; I don’t have any illusions about
being accepted as a poet. I write poetry because I love it, and
I write it for friends and family members.
What’s the best or worst thing that happened
while you were writing a book?
You know, I’m not really sure. I mean there’s
always something. The best thing was that acceptance letter or the
phone call that I got from Soho Press, that they wanted to publish
my work. That was by far the best feeling in the world. As far as
worst times, I suppose that came with my second book. I had sent
the manuscript for “The Curious Always Eat Themselves”
to my editor expecting that he would see that I was this new young
genius. My editor sent it back and told me it had to be totally
redone, reworked. That was probably the worst day. I’ve learned
that no matter how much success I’ve had, there is never a
clear road ahead. There are always obstacles coming up: problems
with editors, difference of opinions, there are always challenges
no matter how famous you think you’ve become.
When you write a new book what kind of research do
you do?
That all depends, like “Death and the Language
of Happiness” had a lot of historical research. If I’m
writing a scene I try to go to any place I write about. So when
Cecil goes to different places I like to travel to them and I take
notes. I take snapshots. I’ll go to the library and look in
phone books to see what people’s names are like there. You
can tell a lot by that. I’ll go to the courthouse and just
wander around. Look at the police station and try to get a sense
of and a feel of what the town is like.
Do you write at a certain time every day?
Writing is my job now and I write, pretty much nine
to five, taking time out for family chores and exercise.
How did you go about finding a publisher?
It was just a matter of luck, really. I have written
several books that didn’t get published. When I finished “The
Women Who Married a Bear” back in 1991, I just sent it to one
publisher that I had heard was looking for new crime fiction. By
chance they were interested in crime fiction from far-flung places.
They took it and promoted it and did a really great job. Finding
a publisher is more a matter of having your very best work ready
to go when your opportunity or good luck comes to you. That’s
why you have to keep writing and finishing things.
Do you ever get totally disgusted while writing and
just want to give up, but keep on plugging?
I get down hearted sometimes about the business of writing,
but the opportunity to come sit in my office and work in this imaginary
world is such a privilege that the down times are short. Like anything
else it has its ups and downs but I haven’t found anything
else to beat it yet.
Visit John Straley online at:
http://www.johnstraley.com
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