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- Author interview - |
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 Interview with author Burl Barer, an Edgar Award winner and two-time Anthony Award nominee who has penned some of The Saint series. Two of his latest books will be released in August 2000: Murder in the Family (non-fiction); and Headlock (fiction), a private eye novel set in Walla Walla, Washington. Feature by PJ Nunn.PJ NUNN - Burl, you're a busy man. Could you tell us - without spoiling anything, of course - a little about the two books you have coming out in August? BURL BARER - The two books coming out in August are: 1. Murder in the Family - non-fiction, true crime, published by Kensington Publishing. This is the shocking true story of Kirby D. Anthoney (age 23) who raped and murdered his Aunt Nancy (age 33) and her 8-year-old daughter Melissa. He also murdered the 3-year-old Angie by slitting her throat ear to ear. As this was prior to DNA testing and evidence (1 year prior), proving his guilt was more complex. He had a good excuse for his hair and fibers to be all over the apartment since he lived there on and off for several months. It is a fascinating story of detection and dedication by the Anchorage Police Department, and the gradual credibility given to forensics in court cases. The story has been featured in two television documentaries, but this is the full story complete with photos. 2. Headlock - fiction. A private eye novel set in Walla Walla, Washington. The protagonist is an Edgar Award winning author who has a private eye license as a gimmick. He takes a case when a paranoid recluse hires him to find out if it is safe to come out of the house. Big hint: it isn't safe. Written in the first person, this involves murder, conspiracy, professional wrestlers, punchboards, pulltabs, the McFeely Tavern, various charming drug addicts and hookers inspired by the addicts and hookers I studied while writing this book. Advance reviews say that this book is brilliant and hilarious. It's so funny because my agent said "write a mystery/thriller and don't be funny" - so I wrote a book in which every primary character is in psychic pain, including our hero. Apparently, readers find the remarks very amusing. That's good. I'm happy folks are entertained. If they like this one, they will enjoy the sequel. Although it's been awhile, I've got to ask - what was it like to be able to work on the movie set of Maverick? An absolute delight. I loved every minute of it - except the first day when I dropped my laptop on the soundstage floor, ruined a take, and destroyed my computer. Good Morning America did an interview with me, Mel Gibson made me espresso in his trailer, Jodie Foster was most pleasant and kind, and James Garner was exactly like James Garner. The director, Richard Donner, was great fun. The book I wrote was MAVERICK: The Making of the Movie/the official guide to the television series. The novelization of MAVERICK was done by the brilliant and talented Max Allan Collins. He did a great job. The two books complemented each other quite well. What was it in your background that prepared you for that task? I was a big Maverick fan, and the introduction to the book (which I think is one of the best things I've written) explains my history with MAVERICK, and how my dad and I used to watch it together every week. A few years prior to the movie, my nephew Lee Goldberg and I wrote a guide to the TV series for Video Review magazine. We were paid, but they never published it. When I got the contract to do the book, some of my work was already done. Didn't you also do the same thing for The Saint? I have written three books with "The Saint" in the title. 1. The Saint: A Complete History 2. The Saint (novelization of the film's screenplay) 3. Capture The Saint (original novel in the Saint series) How has your writing evolved over the years? I dunno. I still can't spell and I have a poor grasp of grammar. Has your writing won any awards? I was so surprised to win the Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America in 1994 (for THE SAINT: A Complete History 1993) that I almost went in a state of shock. I've been twice nominated for the Anthony Award, and that's a big honor. Previously, I have won awards for writing things other than books like commercials, etc. Who are you when you're not writing? I am a well-known has-been. What kind of work do you do? What are your hobbies? I am unemployed and a literary derelict. All I do is write books and worry about paying the bills. Who or what has most influenced your writing? Leslie Charteris, the author who gave us over 40 Saint books, is my biggest influence. The other primary influences, and the only excuses I have for quality, are the excellent editors assigned to my projects. As a writer, where do you see yourself in 10 years? Palm Springs. What do you enjoy most about writing? Good question. I enjoy meeting other authors; being on panels at conventions; seeing my name on the cover; signing books; flirting with the women who buy the books; being actually finished with the book; reading the book a few years after it comes out and realizing that it isn't as awful as I first thought. What do you find most difficult? Accepting the fact that I am no longer in my 40's, let alone my 30's or 20's. Realizing that I am older now than my parents were when I thought they were old. Dealing with the fact that unless something remarkable happens to my career, I'll just be some eccentric who writes pot boilers in the attic. Best advice for new writers? Finish it. E-mail Burl at: brbarer@earthlink.net Web page: http://msnhomepages.talkcity.com/LyricLn/burlbarer |
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