Q. So
how did this novel come to be? Was it envisioned from the start as a
bigger canvas, or did it expand organically out of an idea? Please
tell us a bit about the origin.
A. This
novel arose out of a new collaboration with co-author Susanne
O’Leary. I have known Susanne in the virtual (and virtuous) sense
since we became acquainted on the Authonomy community website in
2008. Although Susanne previously has written principally romance
novels, she has the particular skill that I lack: an ability to work
through a plot from beginning to end quickly.
Another skill she has is handling a curmudgeon.
But
really, the thing that clinched it was that Susanne is married to a
former Irish diplomat; so she had had many years of exposure to the
Irish political establishment, knew and understood it well. And we
happen to share a virulent disdain for crooked politicians.
Anyway,
having realized that two and a half years between novels wasn’t
going to make it in today’s marketplace, I sent out a solicitation
for a collaborator, and Susanne responded. We decided to chat about
it further, and after a few Skype sessions, we’d settled on a story
about dirty Irish politicians, in Ireland and in Boston.
Q. Did you start with the germ of an idea and start writing to see where it went, or did you map a good deal out in your head (or even outline) before crafting?
A. Something
in between. We were both committed to a return of Paul and Shannon
Forté, so we had our heroes. Then we had to invent a Boston-based
political/legal controversy to throw Paul into. Say, a seemingly
dull-sounding contract procurement – until Paul learns that an
ex-rep who cheats at golf is the lobbyist for the competitor.
Then
we had to marry it to an event in Dublin, like, say, ohhhh…the
murder of an Irish politician, which got Finola McGee, the political
editor for a Dublin newspaper involved.
Then
we sent Paul and Shannon to Ireland, and arranged for them to meet
Finola at a castle in Kerry.
Then…well,
you get the idea.
Q. What
do you feel is the main theme(s)?
A. The
theme is the avarice, mendacity and hubris of people in power, with a
special look at Irish family feuds and rivalries along the way.
Q. Why
do you feel this is important, and what would you want a reader to
take away from reading this book?
A. Important?
I wouldn’t be so precious. I hope readers will take away smiles.
Q. What
makes a good book or engaging story?
A. Loveable
characters, snappy dialogue and a different plot that isn’t
predictable.
Q. Are
there writers with similar themes to yours? Who are your influences
(can be writers, or even artists, musicians, or others) and what is
it about their work that attracts you?
A. The
avarice, mendacity and hubris of politicians are not unique themes.
Watch the news today? But focusing on the unique connection and bond
of the Irish people with Boston (and Boston Irish with Ireland)
hasn’t been done, to our knowledge. I’m a huge fan of Raymond
Chandler, John D. MacDonald and Dashiell Hammett, but my more recent
appreciation is for Tim Callinan, who wrote a hilarious three-book
series about a professional thief named Junior Bender. Humor is what
turns me on.
Q. Is
storytelling mostly entertainment, or does it serve other functions?
Do you have particular goals other than telling a good story?
A. It’s
all about entertainment, touching the buttons of reader’s emotions.
Think about your favorite movies. You laugh, you cry, you get angry,
you feel vengeful, you boo, you cheer, and you clap. That’s
entertainment.
Q. Any
other goals you've set for yourself, professionally or personally?
A. Professionally,
none whatsoever. I’ll write as long as it is the pleasure it is.
Personally? Maintain a sense of humor in a world going to shit, try
to prepare my children for what they’re likely to face, and enjoy
good health and family.
Q. Some writers write fast and claim not to rewrite much. Do you do this, or painstakingly revise? When you send the book off to the publisher, are you happy with it, or just tired of it?
A. I
write and revise as I go, but “painstaking” is not an adjective
I’d use. There is very little pain involved in my process. I don’t
send books to publishers, so I’d better be happy with it. On the
other hand, one cannot be captive to the truth that a work can always
be better. Of course it can. But there is no such thing as the
perfect novel – or if there is, it’s not something I’m
compelled to chase.
Q. Do
you have good editors, and if so, how do they help you? Do they look
for particular things? Do you have different people for different
editing levels?
A. Very
much a hit-or-miss thing. I tend to rely more on beta readers for the
Big Picture things, and editors for the wordsmithing. I have one
killer beta reader who is truly a reader’s reader. He catches
everything and doesn’t hold back.
Q. If
a writer came to you for advice, how would you help?
A. My
advice is always this:
Don’t be in a hurry, and if you don’t have thick skin, reconsider your commitment to being a good writer.
Don’t be in a hurry, and if you don’t have thick skin, reconsider your commitment to being a good writer.
Q. Stories
can be told by using a different medium. Can you see your book as a
film, audio, etc.? How would that alter the telling?
A. I
don’t see my book as anything but a story in written form. I don’t
dream about a movie. An audiobook is a nice proving ground for a
story. If it doesn’t read well in the oral telling, it’s not
going to sound good in an audiobook.
I
was awfully lucky to have Diary
of a Small Fish produced as anaudiobook by a superb television character actor, Keith
Sellon-Wright. He did a masterful job of capturing Paul Forté’s
voice, and read the highly emotional scenes in that story with
incredible feeling.
Q. What's
the next step in your writing world?
A. Susanne and I are committed to doing at
least one more Ireland-Boston tale starring Paul and Shannon in
Boston and Finola McGee in Dublin. After that, who knows? Six months
is a long time in the ebook world. No sense in planning into an
ever-changing world.
Q. Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
A. I
play blues guitar and love to cook.
Q. Any other information you'd like to impart?
A. My
golf game is going to shit. Don’t tell anyone.
---
Thanks, Pete.
Web
page: http://www.petemorin.com
Where
to buy:
Bio:
Pete
Morin has been a trial attorney, a politician, a bureaucrat, a
lobbyist, and now spends his time writing legal arguments and crime
fiction.
Pete's
short fiction has appeared in NEEDLE, A Magazine of Noir, Words With
Jam, 100 Stories for Haiti, and Words to Music.
When
he is not writing crime fiction or legal mumbo jumbo, Pete plays
blues guitar in Boston bars, and on increasingly rare occasion, plays
a round of golf. He lives in a money pit on the seacoast south of
Boston, in an area once known as the Irish Riviera.
Pete is
represented by Christine Witthohn of Book Cents Literary Agency.
Thanks for the opportunity to say hi to your readers, Dale. I look forward to seeing you at the next Bouchercon in Raleigh!
ReplyDeleteExcellent interview Pete! I will post a review soon.
ReplyDeleteI thought I'd comment as my ears were burning. Thanks for the kind words, Pete. I'd like to add that this, and the next book are a lot of fun to write.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words, Pete. I must add that the book was a lot of fun to write.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview, can't wait to read The Full Irish.
ReplyDelete