onsidered a trailblazer in the thriller genre, Jon Land has a diverse publication list. Although this prolific author has written more than 40 books, both fiction and nonfiction, his skill with storytelling and the written word goes hand-in- hand with his involvement in the writer community. Recog- nizingC the importance of creating characters not traditionally seen in the thriller genre, one of his popular fictionalized characters is fifth- generation female Texas Ranger Caitlin Strong; two others are a Pal- estinian detective and an Israeli chief police inspector. Land has also taken over writing the popular Murder, She Wrote mystery series, fea- turing female amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher. As an emeritus board member and current marketing chair of the THE BIG International Thriller Writers (ITW) organization, Land deeply embraces the mission of the group – helping debut and mid-list thriller writers advance their careers. In a recent interview, Land was all too gracious to let us pick his brain about craft, diversity in pub- lishing, and paying it forward in the writing community.

What is the most important piece of suc- How have you written and published cessful writing advice you’ve followed? over 40 books since 1986? Is there a par- Fast facts with Jon Land A few years ago, my brilliant editor and ticular method you use that allows you agent, Natalia Aponte, repeated to me to be such a prolific writer? What types of books do you like to HRIL something she’d read from James Lee No matter what I’m writing, I always read for pure pleasure? T L Burke, I believe: “When writing a remind myself to tell a story. The story Thrillers, of course, but I also love to scene, always know where the light is is everything, and sometimes that be scared. Most books fade away coming from.” This really resonated means getting out of the way and letting once you finish them, but books like Prolifc thriller author JON LAND with me because I write exclusively it take you where it needs to go or Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep or his from a character’s viewpoint. That where the characters want it to go. You son Joe Hill’s Heart Shaped Box still means the reader can see only, and need to trust the process, always keep- stand out in my mind. The ability for a gets real about mentorship, exactly, what my characters see. As a ing in mind the definition of story, the book to still scare you reminds us writer, following that advice means most important three words in any we’re all still kids at heart. seeing the world you’ve created writer’s lexicon: beginning, middle, end. beneath the light shining upon it or, When you read for pleasure, do you storytelling, and staying relevant sometimes, the lack of light. It’s a vital Your novels include diverse characters, prefer print books, eBooks, or audio- lesson in scene setting and also helps and some are staged in other countries. books? me sprinkle in my descriptions Is this portrayal of diverse cultures I’m strictly a hard copy reader. Love in the current publishing climate. through a scene instead of dumping important to you? If so, why? having a book in my hands. everything at the beginning. What’s important to me is telling a great story, and the points raised in Do you ever have days when you are What is a piece of writing advice that this two-part question reflect part of “unconnected” from the web? didn’t work for you? what goes into a great story. Those I seldom am “unconnected” for lon- BY K. L. ROMO That’s easy: Write what you know. It questions made me smile a bit, given a ger than an hour! So guilty as may have worked for Hemingway, but certain occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania charged! it’s terrible advice for a fiction author Avenue’s regard for diversity. Being because we are constrained only by the only a second-generation American Do you use any writerly apps, and if limits of our imaginations, not our myself, I despise that attitude with a so, what are your favorites? knowledge. Being a great storyteller is passion and find myself with a desire Hmm, I don’t think I have any. all about what you feel and the situa- to make my characters even more tions you invent for your characters. If diverse. The favorite character of many What is an interesting fact about you we all stuck to writing what we knew, from my Caitlin Strong series is the that readers don’t already know? very few of us would have more than giant, deadly killer (and Caitlin’s pro- I have no intention of ever fully grow-

Rayzor Bachand Rayzor one book to write, if that. tector) Guillermo Paz. ing up!

20 | The Writer • October 2018 How has outreach to other authors and I’ve done and know I’m not going to make these cozy mysteries no less the kind of plotting that makes a book and mission statement. In other words, can’t turn it down. This has become aspiring writers and mentoring school please everybody. vital. The real challenge I face is try- more relevant in terms of content what is the organization’s purpose and an industry where the benchmark of kids affected your writing career? What ing to blend the tone of the television makes it, intrinsically, more fun to how does that purpose serve your success has been replaced by rele- is your philosophy about helping others How has working on the Murder, She show with the tone of the books. I read. A sinister dating service forms needs as a writer? What opportunities vance, and I feel the current climate in the writing community? Wrote project been different from writ- need to walk a fine line as I try to the backdrop for A Date With Murder are there for engagement? In ITW, we leaves me forever striving to remain So much of whatever level of success ing the thrillers in your series? keep regular series readers happy and in my third effort, Murder In Red, have a mentoring program, a debut relevant. This is why I’m ever so I’ve achieved has been the product of First and foremost, Murder, She Wrote while capturing what made the TV I’m going to include both a perilous author program, an author support grateful for the opportunity to take others believing, mentoring, nurtur- marks the first time I’ve ever written show so iconic. There are very few private hospital and a big-pharma program and, of course, ThrillerFest. over Murder, She Wrote and continue ing, and promoting me. This is a in first person, which I find strangely book series that ever reach 46 titles, concern. Now, it’s important to note So before joining a writers organiza- to build my audience. world and a business where nothing refreshing. Second and just as impor- never mind one where a new author is Don Bain also did this in several tion, ask yourself what you want to get happens in a vacuum, and I am a firm tant, while I’ve added an edge to the brought in at that point. Ace Atkins, books, including one focused on out of it, what you want to give to it, Is there a particular social media outlet believer of paying back. So, it’s only series, my writing as Jessica will never for example, has done a wonderful job shady real estate deals. So, I’m not and choose the one that best fits those that you prefer and feel is better suited natural that I want to treat authors the be as intense, relentless, violent and at taking over the Spenser series from reinventing the wheel with this, so categories. And remember, you can for writers? same way I was treated, and that times as dark as my Caitlin Strong the late Robert Parker, but the televi- much as making it turn faster and join as many of them as you want! I love Twitter because of the engage- means going out of my way to help thrillers. As far as advice goes, I’m sion adaptation he has to contend smoother, integrating more pop cul- Many, like ITW, are free or have nomi- ment. Perfect for writers. them the way others helped me. I’d say going to keep it simple by quoting my with wasn’t nearly as popular and ture into Jessica’s adventures. nal membership fees. outreach has been a prime factor in late, great first agent, Toni Mendez: “If doesn’t run every night for four or When posting to social media, how keeping me humble, reminding me you know your characters, you can more hours on cable today! And if the One of the main missions of ITW is for As one of the pioneers of thriller/sus- much personal info should/could an that no matter how much I have left to write anything.” I would only add comments by some longtime series successful, best-selling authors to help pense, do you think the genre has devel- author post without crossing a line? accomplish, I’m very lucky to have that, as in my case, you must be true readers have stung me, then the com- debut and mid-list authors advance their oped like you’d envisioned? I have a rule about social media: pro- accomplished what I have. to yourself. ments by longtime fans of the TV careers. How have you personally Thanks for the great compliment, but motion only. No politics or personal When you think of great episodes show saying they can hear Angela addressed this mission? I’m not worthy of it. I think about minutia. If you check out my daily How have you injected a “fresh from the TV series, like “Murder Lansbury’s voice in my dialogue, well, I’d never been part of a writers organi- reading the likes of David Morrell, tweets, you’ll see a lot of fun, upbeat approach” to the Murder, She Wrote Takes the Bus,” there’s a sense of that’s as rewarding as it gets. zation before and was amazed at how Clive Cussler, Robert Ludlum, and posts, many of which are aimed at the series? nice, warm, and friendly everybody Stephen King – these writers made creative community. I struggled on To begin with, I was replacing a leg- was. Tone like that is set at the top, and me want to do what I’m fortunate social media at first, doing what I end in Donald Bain, who’d written 46 with ITW it starts with David Morrell, enough to have spent my adult life thought I was supposed to do, instead books in the series before they Gayle Lynds, Steve Berry, James Roll- doing. I grew up on Doc Savage, of what comes naturally. And my goal brought me in to work with and then So much of whatever level of success ins, Sandra Brown, Lee Child, and James Bond, and the Executioner. At is that when you read my social media succeed him. That’s more books than many more. The key word is accessibil- their heart, thrillers have retained the posts, you will have no idea on which Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock I’ve achieved has been the product ity, which breeds a desire to go out of magic and wonder of those great side of the political aisle I come down. Holmes or Agatha Christie’s Hercule their/our way to help others. I was just adventures mastered by my idols Poirot series. Think about that for a of others believing, mentoring, thinking the other day how much ITW mentioned above. Some writers set How can a published author gain more moment. As a thriller writer, I had to has done for my career – an incredible, the standard and others strive to meet traction in the market? rely on my instincts to inject more nurturing, and promoting me. immeasurable amount, really. I address it. I believe I fall into the latter cate- Write great books. I know that answer pacing and plotting into the writing. ITW’s mission by never forgetting the gory, and I don’t consider that to be a may sound like a cop-out, but nothing Since I was far more familiar with the benefits I’ve gained from the organiza- bad thing at all. else matters if you don’t write some- television show, I decided to capture tion, and when I’m asked or have the thing others will want to read and the tone and texture of that. Truth be opportunity, I will contribute in any As an author, what are your thoughts on enjoy so much they can’t wait for your told, Jessica Fletcher is portrayed dif- intrigue, mystery, and danger of the The worst thing I could have done and all ways. the changing landscape of the publish- next. Ford has long been one of the ferently on the show than in the sort also found in Sherlock Holmes or with Murder, She Wrote was try to imi- ing industry? great marketing companies in Ameri- books and that’s the way I’ve chosen Hercule Poirot. I think my approach tate Don Bain. That would’ve been a What should authors look for when I took a lot of things for granted when can commerce history, but even Ford to portray her, while trying to strike a takes the series more in that direction; recipe for failure. choosing a writers organization? I encountered success right out of the couldn’t sell the Edsel. delicate balance that will still please not necessarily away from the defini- First off, look for one that is appropri- box in mass-market paperback. Each the legion of Don’s fans. While I think tion of a cozy mystery, just a cozy How have you worked to remain rele- ate to your genre and, secondly, one of my first eight or so books sold bet- K.L. Romo writes about life on the fringe: tee- I’ve succeeded in that to a great with a bit more “bite” in the form of vant in the Murder, She Wrote series? that best fits your needs. Take ITW’s ter than the one before, to the point tering dangerously on the edge is more interest- degree, there are readers disappointed plot mechanizations that make you I think relevance is a prime compo- ThrillerFest conference, for example. where I deluded myself into believing ing than standing safely in the middle. She is in my approach. But I can only stay want to keep turning the pages. In nent of telling a great story. So, I can’t The first two days are devoted to craft it would always be that way. When it passionate about women’s issues, loves noisy true to her voice I’m channeling in my other words, back to the spirit of the say it was a conscious decision on my and the second two days focus more wasn’t anymore, I was slow to clocks and fuzzy blankets, but HATES the word head. I write organically, relying on television show. part so much as an instinctive one. I on fan and reader-oriented topics. I respond, and that cost me dearly. normal. Her historical novel, Life Before, is an what feels right, and so far in A Date For me, the central mystery, Jessi- can only write books I’d read if some- look at writers organizations as sup- Want to know why I’m writing four edgy, time-warping tale of reincarnation, social With Murder and the forthcoming ca’s quest, has to take center stage one else had written them (to para- port systems, as well as a great way to books a year? Because I have to – and justice, and forgiveness. Web: KLRomo.com or Manuscript For Murder, I love what with the parts of her life that truly phrase Robert Louis Stevenson). And network. I think the key is engagement because if an opportunity feels right, I @klromo.

22 | The Writer • October 2018 writermag.com • The Writer | 23