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.