Ask the Author: Sam Diego
Answered Questions (5)
Sam Diego
The plot took form "somewhere" in the U.S. originally, and I began to ask myself where we might be. I paid particular attention to the story's weather and vegetation, as well as to the time of year, and converged on Miami. That all sounds reasonable until you find out that there are 11 cities named Miami in the United States (according to reference.com). This means that you the reader get to choose which Miami you think you're reading about.
On a depressing note, the Miami, Florida, police force were under investigation for killing 7 African Americans in 2011...
On a depressing note, the Miami, Florida, police force were under investigation for killing 7 African Americans in 2011...
Sam Diego
Believe it or not, you will find a bit symbolism in Fear Begets Murder, though it is mostly spelled out.
An example of this is the reference in chapter 1 to Julian the Hospitaller, protector saint of repentant murderers in the Catholic tradition. Let me start by stating that I am non-religious. The underlying message that I hoped to convey is that the human psyche and behavior are incredibly complex and that we all carry with us strong influences predominantly from our childhoods. All of us, "good" and "bad" have reasons for the ways that we think and behave, whether we realize it or not. With this in mind I aspire to be more compassionate, more forgiving, less rigid, and less annoyed at my fellow humans, even those who express hatred or commit hate crimes. And I hope for a world in which those who used to express hatred or commit hate crimes, now also treat their fellow humans with compassion and respect, rather than fear and anger.
Another example is more subtle. The book chapters are titled according to the dates of the unfolding events. Chapter 1 is March First and Chapter 2 is March Fourth, which phonetically are double entendres. Turns out that March is also Women's History Month, relevant in that our heroine is female.
An example of this is the reference in chapter 1 to Julian the Hospitaller, protector saint of repentant murderers in the Catholic tradition. Let me start by stating that I am non-religious. The underlying message that I hoped to convey is that the human psyche and behavior are incredibly complex and that we all carry with us strong influences predominantly from our childhoods. All of us, "good" and "bad" have reasons for the ways that we think and behave, whether we realize it or not. With this in mind I aspire to be more compassionate, more forgiving, less rigid, and less annoyed at my fellow humans, even those who express hatred or commit hate crimes. And I hope for a world in which those who used to express hatred or commit hate crimes, now also treat their fellow humans with compassion and respect, rather than fear and anger.
Another example is more subtle. The book chapters are titled according to the dates of the unfolding events. Chapter 1 is March First and Chapter 2 is March Fourth, which phonetically are double entendres. Turns out that March is also Women's History Month, relevant in that our heroine is female.
Sam Diego
I had one main stereotype in mind when I started working on FEAR BEGETS MURDER: the white supremacist police officer. While I felt furious at the treatment of minorities by police, I also wanted to consider how a person could grow from innocent child to violent racist adult. So I came up with a simplistic scenario.
As the book took form and the characters developed, however, it became apparent that this story would be riddled with stereotypes. I came to terms with that. I decided not to make political correctness the purpose of this book and, therefore, decided not to avoid the portrayal of stereotypes. Instead I embraced stereotypes for helping paint a plausible picture of human interactions.
As the book took form and the characters developed, however, it became apparent that this story would be riddled with stereotypes. I came to terms with that. I decided not to make political correctness the purpose of this book and, therefore, decided not to avoid the portrayal of stereotypes. Instead I embraced stereotypes for helping paint a plausible picture of human interactions.
Sam Diego
I am starting to think about dinner right now, and I miss eating out and socializing with friends and family. Maybe we could meet safely at the restaurant at the end of the Universe...
Sam Diego
The idea for my most recent book came to me from everyday life in the United States. It was 2016 I think, and I had just heard about yet another murder of an African American by a law enforcement officer.
The news made me livid. How many such murders can there be year after year, and we go about our lives as though nothing happened?
I felt helpless as a middle class cog with little power to bring about change. I felt threatened belonging to an ethnic - though not racial - minority myself. Most of all I could not tolerate my boiling rage any longer, triggered and fueled by plain and simple injustice.
My first work of fiction is an expression of my deeply felt anger and sense of injustice in response to the serial killings of African Americans and other minorities by law enforcement officers.
The news made me livid. How many such murders can there be year after year, and we go about our lives as though nothing happened?
I felt helpless as a middle class cog with little power to bring about change. I felt threatened belonging to an ethnic - though not racial - minority myself. Most of all I could not tolerate my boiling rage any longer, triggered and fueled by plain and simple injustice.
My first work of fiction is an expression of my deeply felt anger and sense of injustice in response to the serial killings of African Americans and other minorities by law enforcement officers.
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