Robin Dilks
asked
Erik Larson:
I am a newer fan, impressed with your ability to show the beauty of history. You are able to weave stories that often involve several characters, long timeframes and in-depth facts. Your ability to do so aside from being extremely fascinating I am certain involves extensive research. Do you do most of your own research or do you have an assistant and how do you settle on a specific place and time in history?
Erik Larson
I do all my own research. That's half the fun, frankly. Every day is like a detective story, and I never know when I'll open a new archival box and find something amazing.
More Answered Questions
Chris
asked
Erik Larson:
I recieved an advance copy of Dead Wake through Read It Forward and have been preparing a review, when for a different reason I picked up Edgar Rice Burroughs' The Land That Time Forgot. I was struck by the similarities between the U-33 sinking the ship and the U-20 sinking the Lusitania, and wondered if you have ever read this particular Burroughs novel, which was published in 1918?
Kate Deeks
asked
Erik Larson:
Just read your vibrant PowellsBooks.com interview with book buyer Rhianna Walton. I loved "Devil in the White City", and can't wait to read "Dead Wake". As a youngish female, I don't have many friends who have discovered your awesome writing. How do you generally relate to your readers like me, and can we expect a can't-miss book topic from you in the future? Not that WWI is unrelatable...
Meg Marlowe
asked
Erik Larson:
I basically wrote a laudatory review, but Goodreads said, "UM...no" so here is my question: Will you continue to write parallel stories, as in "Devil" & "Thunderstruck", or do you not plan that? I guess what I am saying is, do you choose your stories, or do they choose you? & do you think we will see more books from you with concurrent stories? (but I love all your stories. You are my favorite contemporary writer).
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