How I Put in writing: Secrets of a Bestselling Author. Read on to see Janet Evanovich's questions for Michael Connelly, or turn the tables to see what Connelly asked Evanovich.
Evanovich: So dude,... Okay, you're back in Florida. Do you ever get to the beach? And when and if you get to the beach...is Harry Bosch together with you? And what kind of beachwear are you guys sporting? Flip-flops? Crocs? Speedo? Board shorts?
Connelly: I go to the beach often on weekends. Board shorts are necessary and I wear flip-flops together with the built in bottle opener. Comes in handy. In Florida we rarely have waves, unless there is a hurricane in the Gulf. So I have taken up paddle-boarding, which essentially involves a big surfboard this you stand on and paddle. Still a balancing act, but easier than surfing, and you don't want waves.
Evanovich: What will a bookstore look like in 2020? Will we all be downloading?
Connelly: Good question. Since it is only eleven years from now, I believe there will still be a solid population of "old school" readers who want the book in their hands. The question is, will they get it at a bookstore or will we have a Kindle 9.0 device this manufactures a book for you at home, complete together with photo of author in a bomber jacket.
Evanovich: If everybody is downloading in 2020 what the heck will we be signing on book tour? Body parts? Kindle cases?
Connelly: I signed two Kindles yesterday. One person asked me to go away room for signatures from you and Dennis Lehane. So next time you're in Seattle she'll be in your line.
Evanovich: Do you eat when you put in writing? Beer nuts? M&Ms? Just coffee? What keeps you from falling out of the chair in a narcoleptic stupor?
Connelly: Have you ever seen what eating Cheetos can do to a keyboard? I have to say I am addicted to Coke. I always have a glass of it nearby. I eat a lot of candy, too. Keeps me going. Smarties are a excellent writing tool. I often want to raid my daughter's stash and then there is trouble on the home front.
Evanovich: Are you a messy guy or a neat guy? Do you keep clutter on your desk? In your head? Are there soda cans and crumpled quick food wrappers rolling all-around on the floor of your car?
Connelly: I keep a clean car but a desk this gets progressively messier as I put in writing a book. When I am finished together with the book, I clean up the deskāand eat all the stray Smarties found under the paperwork. The clean desk then promotes the begin of the next book.
Evanovich: The new book, The Scarecrow sounds terrific, and I recognize it's followed by Harry Bosch in Nine Dragons in the fall. Does your publisher prefer one series over another? And do you locate one series to be extra commercially viable than another?
Connelly: They let me do what I would like. I like writing concerning Harry Bosch and he's pretty popular, but usually when I put in writing a standalone it widens the audience a bit.
Evanovich: Would like to meet me in a bar in Ft. Myers? Is this halfway?
Connelly: Name the situate.