Ken O'Donnell asked Erik Larson:

What always strikes me about your books is that I find myself not only do I get hooked by a good story (which yours are) but I get the feeling of how history looked from the street. Its a rear quality in literature. Is this researched or made up? keep up the good work I'm about to start your new book. Can't wait to get lost. Cheers. Ken

Erik Larson There is nothing "made up" in my books. I spend many long hours immersed in archives to find just the right bits and pieces that'll light the imagination. Only novelists make things up.

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Have you ever tried your hand at fiction? Or do you feel it's too difficult for a journalist to make the switch over to fiction? (Maybe not for Fox News reporters ;-) Any advice for a short feature writer trying to make the leap over to a longer work?

Jen asked Erik Larson:

I loved, loved, loved devil in the white city almost as much as I love Chicago. What in the world drew you to major in Russian history? What is your craziest international incident? Mine was being attacked by a bat in my hotel room in Tianjin, China. I'm convinced bats can see.

Lauren asked Erik Larson:

Have you followed any of the continuing investigation into Crippen's guilt or innocence? A quick wikipedia search shows there was some controversial new DNA evidence that came out after Thunderstruck. What do you make of it?

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Erik Larson

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Have you ever tried your hand at fiction? Or do you feel it's too difficult for a journalist to make the switch over to fiction? (Maybe not for Fox News reporters ;-) Any advice for a short feature writer trying to make the leap over to a longer work?

I loved, loved, loved devil in the white city almost as much as I love Chicago. What in the world drew you to major in Russian history? What is your craziest international incident? Mine was being attacked by a bat in my hotel room in Tianjin, China. I'm convinced bats can see.

Have you followed any of the continuing investigation into Crippen's guilt or innocence? A quick wikipedia search shows there was some controversial new DNA evidence that came out after Thunderstruck. What do you make of it?

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