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Jonathan Kellerman |
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Jonathan Kellerman is one of the world's most popular authors. He has brought his expertise as a clinical psychologist to numerous bestselling tales of suspense, most featuring psychologist Alex Delaware and LA police detective Milo Sturgis.
Kellerman won the Samuel Goldwyn, Edgar Allan Poe and Anthony Boucher awards and has been nominated for a Shamus award. He is married to the bestselling novelist Faye Kellerman. They have four children and live in Los Angeles. Books published by Penguin include Obsession, Gone and Rage.
Jonathan Kellerman - Under Interrogation
What was the first crime novel you ever read?
Probably an Agatha Christie when I was eleven or so. Before that, stories by Poe, Verne, etc. I guess The Count of Monte Cristo can be considered a crime novel, as well.
Who is your favourite crime writer?
Ross McDonald. But I admire many.
Which crime novel do you wish you’d written?
The Chill.
Why did you choose to write crime fiction?
All good fiction features suspense – propelling the reader through the story. Crime fiction features a crime as the catalyst but the elements of a good novel need to be there as well: characterization, pace, story, graceful, novel use of language. Due to my background as a psychologist, I found that crime novels dealt with life and death themes that intrigued me. The angst of the upper-middle class doesn’t interest me much.
Has any thriller ever made you sleep with the lights on?
When I wrote The Butcher's Theatre, I was pretty edgy.
If you were stranded on a desert island – which fictional character would you most want to be stranded with and why?
At the risk of getting in trouble with my wife, Emma Peel would be okay. Need I say more?
If you had to compare your books to any author, who would it be?
I see myself as a second-generation Southern California hardboiled writer – the fist being McDonald, Chandler, et al. Steven King says I reinvented the detective novel. Perhaps he was being kind, but I’d like to think I’ve contributed something unique to the field.
When you begin – do you already know the end?
Yes. But I change lots of things along the way.
What is the most outlandish plot idea you’ve come up with – and did it become a book?
Oh, I’ve got so many. Some have found their way into novels, others are on the drawing board.
What are you working on at the moment?
An Alex Delaware novel titled Obsession. Not just a whodunit, not just a whydunit. A didit.
And now for some quick fire questions:
First person or third person?
Both.
US or UK?
Both
Marple or Morse?
Morse
Amateur sleuth or DCI?
DCI
Paperback or hardback?
Hardback
Past or present?
Present
Series or stand-alone?
Both
Chandler or Hammett?
Chandler
Please give your top three crime writing tips:
1) Live life to the fullest and be curious
2) Write, make no excuses.
3) Write some more. Rewrite
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You Ask The Questions – Jonathan Kellerman, author of Rage, answers your questions.
Are you inspired by true crimes? Lindsey, Wigan
It’s never a one-to-one correspondence. I do try to familiarize myself with the realities of crime so that the novels are authentic. During my years as a psychologist I did have occasion to have contact with the criminal justice system and that helped inform the books, as well.
I love Spike! Do you have a dog of your own?? Hannah, Edinburgh
I’ve had several dogs – we’re big dog people. Spike was based loosely on our French Bulldog, Archie, who passed away last year, age 12.5, after a rather indulged life. Perfect health until the week before he developed hemangiosarcoma and slipped away painlessly. I also lost my 150 lb. Sicilian Mastiff, Donna. We are down to our 16yr plus Papillon, Dreamy. Blind, deaf, senile, but quite content.
At what age did you start writing? And what was the first piece of fiction you ever wrote? Caroline, Blackburn
I began writing rather compulsively when I was nine. I published humorous columns in the campus newspaper while at university. My first short story was published in the 70’s, my first novel in 1985.
Why did you choose Los Angeles as the setting for your novels? I've never been but I feel I know the streets from your novels! Syed, London
I’ve lived in L.A. for most of my life and love the city. It’s probably no coincidence that many of the finest American crime novels have been set here. L.A.’s somewhat of a third world nation, with huge disparities between the haves and the have-nots. That, of course, leads to tension. Which can lead to crime. Also, the great weather means more opportunities to get into trouble. Even criminals stay in when the air gets too frigid.
What is the best thing and the worst thing about being a crime writer? Jason, Amboise, France
Nothing bad that I can think of. You won’t hear me going on about the rough life of the writer. This is a terrific job that beats honest labor any day of the week.
If a film was going to be made out of one of your books, who would you ideally want to play Alex, Milo and Robin? Paula, Loughborough
I’ve never really thought about that because the characters seem like real people to me and any actor would be a substitution.
Your wife is also a crime writer. Do you ever discuss your plots? Sarah, Aberdeen
We tend to remain private about our books but we will each happen upon a newspaper item or such and tell the other, 'This would be good for you.'
Why do you choose to write in the first person? Elizabeth, Oxford
I was influenced by the hard-boiled detective novels of the previous generation – Macdonald, Chander, etc, and admired the immediacy created by first-person. Since my books tend to feature a lot of internal thought, first person seems right. The non-Delaware novels have been written in third-person, mostly so I could stretch and in order to feature multiple points of view.
Do you read any British crime writers? Andrew, Bristol
Oh, sure. John Harvey, Ruth Rendell, P. D. James. nd of course, Arthur Conan Doyle. I’m a big fan of the British crime novel.
I heard your next novel is called Gone. What’s it about? Sophie, London
Gone is about beautiful people disappearing – would-be actors, etc. In addition to being (I hope) a fast-paced crime novel, it says something about the desire for notoriety and where that can lead.
