Tell us about your latest novel:
Hmm, I'm about to start working on the first novel is a Nashville based P.I. series. The P.I. is also a session musician and a back up singer, who also writes songs. At the moment I have Rat Pack #5, I'M A FOOL TO KILL YOU, out in trade paper, Rat Pack #6, FLY ME TO THE MORGUE, out in hardcover, and the third Delvecchio novel, THE END OF BROOKLYN, out in trade. I'm also putting together an anthology called CRIME SQUARE for Winter 2012 publication. All the while writing a Gunsmith every month.
How is this novel different than your previous novels?
I'll answer this about the Nashville novel. I have not used a music background in my work before. Sports, cops, crime, yes, but not music. I was a musician very early in my life--guitar, piano, cello--but gave it all up to pursue a writing career. I do, however, sing from time to time, and have sung on stage. I follow the music scene, so the bulk of my research will have to be about Nashville, which is driving distance from here.
Do you feel like you ever have to defend yourself for writing genre fiction?
No. Anyone who would expect me to defend myself is not worth talking to. I wouldn't waste my time.
Why do you write westerns?
That's a long story. I backed into it accidentally back in the 80's. It's what people were reading and writing at the time, and if I wanted to make a living writing, that's what I had to write. Turns out I really like doing it, and I'm fairly good at it.
When did you know you were a writer?
When I was 15, and decided that I would do this for a living when I tuned 30. Not that I WANTED to do this for a living, but that I WOULD--and I DID! Do . . . Am.
What’s a work day like for you?
Long. I'm tempted to leave it at that, but I get some work done in the afternoon between 1-5 and most of my work done at night between 11-4 a.m. Most of the time I'm working on two books at a time, one in the afternoon and one at night. Then I have to live a life around the work. That means the post office, grocery store, bank, restaurants, malls, book stores, casinos, movies, all have to be scheduled around the work. And trips (usually road trips) usually involve the work.
What’s a day off like for you?
That's crazy talk!
If you could be anything other than writer, what would it be?
That's easy--a musician/singer.
How do you define success?
Doing what I want, when I want, with only the consequences I can handle.
What’s next for you?
More books. More and more and more books . . . more Gunsmiths, a new 1880's P.I. series, my Nashville series (3 books so far), some one-offs that I'm working on. Just . . . more.
1 comment:
Thanks for the interview, gents.
Mr. Randisi is the hardest working man in the biz, and a source of inspiration for folks such as myself.
I look forward to reading his new work (though I'm not sure I can read that fast!).
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