Talking Mysteries: A Conversation With Tony Hillerman

by Tony Hillerman, Ernie Bulow

Explores the life and work of Tony Hillerman, including the author's reflections on his childhood, a discussion of his artistic technique, and a short story

Genres: Nonfiction, Mystery, Writing, Biography

135 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1991

About the author

Tony Hillerman, who was born in Sacred Heart, Oklahoma, was a decorated combat veteran from World War II, serving as a mortarman in the 103rd Infantry Division and earning the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and a Purple Heart. Later, he worked as a journalist from 1948 to 1962. Then he earned a Masters degree and taught journalism from 1966 to 1987 at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, where he resided with his wife until his death in 2008. Hillerman, a consistently bestselling author, was ranked as New Mexico's 25th wealthiest man in 1996. - Wikipedia

Reviews

[Jay Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished Talking Mysteries in just 5 days! It’s a short one. I found this book on the shelf at one of my favorite used book stores in Michigan, Landmark Books in Traverse City. I was looking for a Tony Hillerman book because we are going to Santa Fe for about a week, and it feels wrong not to be reading a book of the place, like one of the great Jim Chee/Joe Leaphorn books. I have read several of them. I found a couple at a used book store in Durango, CO a few years ago. Loved them both, and have read some others checked out from the library.

I’m really glad I got this book, because it is so informative about how Hillerman grew up, his experiences prior to becoming a writer, like the military, etc. The book gives a general background that is really instructive for a person who enjoys the Chee/Leaphorn series, native people (Navajo and Pueblan people specifically), and the Southwest in general. It is written by Tony Hillerman and Ernie Bulow, and it contains a Jim Chee story, an essay by Hillerman about his youth and becoming a writer, and an extensive interview conducted by Bulow with Hillerman. Bulow also writes a clever introduction.

Ernie Bulow clearly has a healthy appreciation for Hillerman’s work and he has an expertise in the area in which the stories take place, and the people who inhabit those areas. That is why the interview is probably the best part of the book. Bulow is able to ask questions that a less experienced interviewer would not know about, and would not think to ask. He is expert in the place and in Hillerman’s work, so he is perfectly placed to ask some really penetrating questions that brought many things about his work to light. He was especially good with technique-how he did his research, how he developed plot, how he figured out characters, and the structure of his approach in completing the novels. If you are interested in writing and the process of writing a book, it was very informative and interesting.

The book also contains some pretty cool drawings by Ernest Franklin in the back. They show some scenes and some characters from the Chee/Leaphorn books. There are also biographies at the end.

This is an excellent book if you are interested in writing process, the American southwest, native people, or mystery writing. It was a great find, thanks to Landmark Books in TC!

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an odd little book, best read by people who like Hillerman's mysteries. Depending on what you want to count, there are 7 parts to this book.

1: a map of 'Hillerman's Territory' -- useful to have at hand when reading one of his mysteries

2: an introduction by Ernie Bulow, a non-Navajo friend of Hillerman's who has spent years on the reservation, owned a bookstore for a while, and is mainly a journalist (I think) -- he didn't care for Hillerman's first book in the Leaphorn/Chee series, The Blessing Way.

3: Hillerman's thoughts on his early years and their influence on his writing; mostly about how he conceives his stories and what he hopes to accomplish

4: Bulow interviews Hillerman -- this is the weakest section of the book; it repeats much of what has already been said. I kept wondering why they didn't do a heavy edit on these pages.
p 67, good quote by TH: I usually don't care who did it, it's why it's being done that interests me, ... I'm concerned with motivation, I guess.

5: a short story featuring Chee, similar to an incident in The Blessing Way

6: brief biographies of each of the writers -- again, repeats a lot of what's been said earlier, leaving me to wonder why these weren't edited

7: illustrations that were done by Navajo artist Ernest Franklin for specific books, but which books aren't specified; that's left for the avid Hillerman reader to figure out

Overall, a light read that I might glance at again after I've re-read the mysteries.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this at a library book sale because I thought it would have insights into writing mysteries. It did a little, things like Hillerman didn't outline and he only revised the first chapter or two of each book, preferring to edit as he wrote. It didn't have much on writing mysteries. It did have an interesting anecdote. His agent, after reading Hillerman's first mystery, The Blessing Way, told him to "lose the Indian stuff." So much for what some agents know. the "Indian stuff" was what people loved about his mysteries.

[Linda Hartlaub · Rating 4 out of 5]

A small book that includes a chat between Tony Hillerman and Ernie Bulow concerning writing techniques, Navajo and Hopi cultures, mythology, and religion. It also includes biographies of Hillerman, Bulow, and Ernest Franklin, an artist who brought Hillerman's characters to life in art. A good insight into what Hillerman thinks as he creates his novels and what he wishes he would have done differently in those first few books.

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is what it is. 135 pages containing an "about me" by Tony Hillerman, an interview with Tony Hillerman like you would read in Mystery Scene magazine that is almost a complete repetition of the "about me" that proceeded it, one Jim Chee short story, 12 ink sketches of Hillerman's characters and "back flap" bios for Tony Hillerman, Ernie Bulow, and Ernest Franklin.

You might want it if you collect everything Tony Hillerman.

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read nearly every book Tony Hillerman wrote and loved his ability to bring to life his characters. In this books he talks about writing. I particularly liked the idea of having a thick folder of perfect first chapters of books that never really came to life as complete books. As a writer myself, I have my own folder of failed projects. It is the one thing I have in common with this wonderful storyteller.

[Susan Jo Grassi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tony Hillerman is one of my favorite authors. I spent a lot of time in the areas he describes in his books. Rugged yet beautiful, almost mythical and very spiritual. I was impressed and surprised at how he fleshed out his stories. It worked for him but I doubt many other authors would agree with his methods.

[truthseeker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction into Hillerman's approach to mystery writing.

[Jay French · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was more a hardback fanzine than a book. There are a number of articles, most not by Hillerman. Interesting only to those who have run out of Hillerman mysteries to read.

[Eileen McCauley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun for Tony Hillerman fan. It is a collection of several different forms: a Jim Chee short story, an interview etc.

[Mary Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Tony Hillerman, so I couldn't resist reading this. It's a quick read, composed of a biographical sketch of Hillerman, a transcribed conversation between Hillerman and Ernie Bulow, a meandering essay by Hillerman on how he writes mysteries, and a short story featuring Jim Chee. There is also a biographical sketch of Bulow, another short bio of Hillerman, and a bio of a man who has done a series of drawings based on Hillerman's work (12 of which are included in the book.) Some interesting info on Hillerman's approach to writing (in brief: he doesn't outline), but taken together, there is a lot of repetition. I enjoyed the short story.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the discussions about his writing approaches. Provides informative background about his character and plot development. Gave me a better appreciation of the importance of the locations to his stories.

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun little book with information and interviews of Tony Hillerman. Much of what he told us at the Utah Library Association workshop is repeated here.

[Cws]

M Hil

[Larada Horner-Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great information about one of my literary heroes! Inside pieces that felt intimate.