Ask the Author: Duane Swierczynski
Answered Questions (21)
Duane Swierczynski
I'm very much looking forward to...
OPENING WEDNESDAY AT A THEATER OR DRIVE-IN NEAR YOU by Charles Taylor
The NYRB edition of IN A LONELY PLACE by Dorothy B. Hughes (with an introduction by Megan Abbott)
SHE RIDES SHOTGUN by Jordan Harper
THE RISE OF D.O.D.O. by Neal Stephenson and Nicole Galland
THE BLINDS by Adam Sternbergh
THE DARK NET by Benjamin Percy
THE LATE SHOW by Michael Connelly
OPENING WEDNESDAY AT A THEATER OR DRIVE-IN NEAR YOU by Charles Taylor
The NYRB edition of IN A LONELY PLACE by Dorothy B. Hughes (with an introduction by Megan Abbott)
SHE RIDES SHOTGUN by Jordan Harper
THE RISE OF D.O.D.O. by Neal Stephenson and Nicole Galland
THE BLINDS by Adam Sternbergh
THE DARK NET by Benjamin Percy
THE LATE SHOW by Michael Connelly
Duane Swierczynski
I'd like to figure out, once and for all, who stole the keeshka.
Duane Swierczynski
Funny you ask this; my novel-in-progress is about a married couple. But hands down, my far-and-away favorite fictional couple is Dashiell Hammett's Nick and Nora Charles. They're smart, they're clearly in love, and they drink like fish.
Duane Swierczynski
Good question! You'll have to ask Peter Spiegelman. : )
Duane Swierczynski
Ah, thanks Dean! So glad you enjoyed. I usually write stand-alones, but the novel-in-progress is set in same world as CANARY and REVOLVER, so there's a good chance you'll be seeing Audrey again soon.
As for what to read next: I loved the hell out of Noah Hawley's BEFORE THE FALL and Patrick Hoffman's THE WHITE VAN. And if you like novels with shifting perspectives, check out Elizabeth Hand's WYLDING HALL, a horror thriller in the form of a rock n' roll oral history.
As for what to read next: I loved the hell out of Noah Hawley's BEFORE THE FALL and Patrick Hoffman's THE WHITE VAN. And if you like novels with shifting perspectives, check out Elizabeth Hand's WYLDING HALL, a horror thriller in the form of a rock n' roll oral history.
Duane Swierczynski
Hey, Patrick! The Black Hood TPB was only pushed back, not cancelled. I don't have official word on this, but I think we'll be seeing it in early Fall 2016. Hang in there...
Duane Swierczynski
Hah! No, the fictional D.A. in CANARY is not based on any real D.A., here or otherwise.
Duane Swierczynski
Hey, Arely! I definitely have plans for a sequel, though not right away. My idea is to check in with Sarie (and her brother Marty) in a few years to see where their lives have taken them.
My next novel, however, was inspired by a throwaway line in Canary (something to do with Ben Wildey's family). So if you like the world of Canary, there's a good chance you'd like this next one, too.
My next novel, however, was inspired by a throwaway line in Canary (something to do with Ben Wildey's family). So if you like the world of Canary, there's a good chance you'd like this next one, too.
Duane Swierczynski
This answer contains spoilers…
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Duane Swierczynski
Thanks for asking, Jason. "Canary" is a standalone (and my next novel will be another standalone), but I'm hoping to return to Sarie's world down the road. Not too long. I have this crazy idea that I'll check in with Sarie and her family every couple of years, in "real time," to see what they're up to.
Duane Swierczynski
Hey, Patrick! It's tough to say anything without spoilers, but rest assured that X will crawl away from the events of the crossover to see his beloved Arcadia changed for the worse. Which of course, will inspire him to fight back even harder. In the words of the immortal Frank Stallone: "I am down, but I am far from over." (You've got that song stuck in your head now, don't you? You're welcome!)
Duane Swierczynski
Hey, Steven! The Black Hood is going well so far; I've written two issues and am currently working on the third. The art from Michael Gaydos is really amazing. As for Philly signings... count on it! I'll post word when I know more.
Duane Swierczynski
I am! I'm on a panel at 11:30 on Thursday, then another Saturday afternoon. Otherwise, I'll probably be in the book room or the bar.
Duane Swierczynski
Hey, Yvonne! Great question. For the past two years I've taught a reading seminar at the Crime Fiction Academy in NYC, and here are a few of the noir/crime/mystery novels I've assigned (all are still in print/available):
THE KILLER INSIDE ME by Jim Thompson
THE CRY OF THE OWL by Patricia Highsmith (but also check out RIPLEY'S GAME, which I just finished. Amazing.)
MIAMI BLUES, by Charles Willeford
THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE, by James M. Cain
SHOOT THE PIANO PLAYER, by David Goodis
THE EXPENDABLE MAN, by Dorothy Hughes
COTTON COMES TO HARLEM, by Chester Himes
THE LAST GOOD KISS, by James Crumley
THE HUNTER, by Richard Stark
... to name just a few.
Cheers--
Duane
THE KILLER INSIDE ME by Jim Thompson
THE CRY OF THE OWL by Patricia Highsmith (but also check out RIPLEY'S GAME, which I just finished. Amazing.)
MIAMI BLUES, by Charles Willeford
THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE, by James M. Cain
SHOOT THE PIANO PLAYER, by David Goodis
THE EXPENDABLE MAN, by Dorothy Hughes
COTTON COMES TO HARLEM, by Chester Himes
THE LAST GOOD KISS, by James Crumley
THE HUNTER, by Richard Stark
... to name just a few.
Cheers--
Duane
Duane Swierczynski
Not to answer your question with a question, but do you really think it's more popular today than in previous years? I'd argue that readers have always loved crime stories; what falls in and out of favor might be the flavor or subgenre. (For instance, the word "noir" being thrown around like crazy. Everything's noir! Even when it's not.) But people have always liked to read about crime; hell, it's hard to think of a novel that doesn't have at least one.
Duane Swierczynski
I just force myself to hit my daily word count. Even if I think what I'm typing is awful. I console myself with the thought that I can always revise it later (and almost always do).
Duane Swierczynski
Um... everything? This is my dream job. Aside from being Spider-Man.
Duane Swierczynski
The collision of three different ideas/notions -- which is how it usually happens. One was a true crime article I read in a local newspaper. The other was my desire to write a proper murder mystery (I don't think I've ever written one). And finally, meeting someone with an interesting background/cool job that I wanted to learn more about. Those three things simmered in my head for a couple of weeks, then one Sunday morning, BOOM, they fused into one.
Duane Swierczynski
Whatever you're working on, be it a novel, a short story, an epic poem, whatever... the best thing you can do is finish it. Even if you think it sucks. Finish it. Even if a new idea seizes your attention. Finish it. Nothing happened for me as a novelist until I actually finished the first draft of my first novel. And yes, a lot of it sucked, but that's what the revision process is for. You can't revise what you haven't finished.
Duane Swierczynski
Right at this moment, I'm working on my tenth novel; writing Judge Dredd #25; revising a TV pilot, revising X #20 for Dark Horse; revising a pitch for another comic; researching a story that will either be an original graphic novel or a true crime memoir; researching a short humor piece for Men's Health magazine; fleshing out a new idea for fun.
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