Heather’s Bookshelf: Author Interview with Steven Max Russo

What inspired you to write “The Debt Collector”

Russo: I’ve been asked this question about my previous novel, The Dead Don’t Sleep. The answer for The Debt Collector is the same – fear.

Let me explain. After I finished writing my debut novel, Thieves, I was afraid that might be the only novel I had in me. Perhaps as an author I was destined to be a “one hit wonder.” So I immediately began work on a second book, just to prove to myself that I could do it. Once I finished The Dead Don’t Sleep, that same nagging thought emerged – what if this is it? What if I can’t write another book? So I began work on what turned out to be The Debt Collector.

Now I’ve got three books published and guess what?

I’m starting to wonder whether or not I can do it again, whether I have another book in me. So now I’m back at it, working on a new novel.

How did you come up with the names of your main characters?

Russo: What a great question! I think character’s names are very important to a story. I’ve read countless books where (in my opinion) some of the characters’ names, particularly the main characters, felt off – like the author spent a lot of time trying to think up a name that sounded cool or different, but the name doesn’t seem to fit the character – or it feels contrived.

I don’t know about other writers, but for me (at least so far), the process is different as each story progresses. Sometimes a character’s name just comes to me and I think, yes, that name is perfect! That’s what happened with The Debt Collector. I sat down to write the very first sentence of the story and the name Abigail Barnes just popped into my head with no conscious thought or effort on my part whatsoever.

Other times and for other characters, the process has been a bit more taxing. I struggled to come up with the name of the psychopath in my first book, Thieves. I had a last name, Skooley, and as I wrote using that name and the character developed, it just felt right. But I had trouble coming up with a first name for him that fit. I tried a whole series of different names and none of the names I came up with seemed to work. Then I gave an early draft of the novel to a friend and explained to her that I was having trouble with the name. She read the story and when she finished, she simply looked at me and said, “What about Lamar?” and I thought, Lamar Skooley, perfect!

When you encounter writer’s block, what do you do to break yourself out of it?

Russo: Another great question. I think writer’s block is something that most, if not all, writers go through. It feels, quite literally, like you’ve come upon solid brick wall and there’s no way around it.

Some writers sit at their computer and keep hammering away at those keys until the relentless pounding begins to crack the wall. When writer’s block hits me, I usually back away from the computer and try thinking about something else. I’ve been an advertising copywriter most of my adult life so thinking around difficult creative problems is nothing new to me.

Sometimes consciously trying to not think about something allows your subconscious to work out the problem. I always sleep with a pad and pen next to my bed. Actually, I’ve been doing that for years. I can’t tell you how many ad headlines I’ve come up with in the middle of the night! These days I am often startled awake by an idea or new direction for a book or story that hits me somewhere between wakefulness and sleep and I jot down whatever comes to mind.

Of course, if all else fails, I simply sit down at my computer and keep hammering away at those keys until the relentless pounding begins to crack the wall.

Are there any tips that you would like to share with other aspiring authors on how you plan your book?

Russo: The only tip or advice I can think of to offer is stay true to yourself and to your writing. By that I mean don’t try and chase trends or try to sound like another successful author. I’ve been told by agents and editors that in order to get published and be successful, I should try and write like this person or try to come up with a story that is similar to the story told in this or that book.

Writing is hard work, there’s no way around that. Achieving any measure of success as a writer is even harder. But trying to circumvent the process by emulating someone else’s “voice” or writing style or similar storyline just makes the job that much more difficult, particularly for us relatively new writers.

What is your favorite genre, book, and/or author?

Russo: Not surprisingly I’m a big fan of crime stories and thrillers. I can’t name any favorite book, but I have a list as long as my arm of favorite authors. They include John Sandford, Nelson DeMille, James Lee Burke, Elmore Leonard, Michael Connelly, Karin Slaughter, Stephen King, Don Winslow, Thomas Perry, Jonathan Kellerman – the list goes on and on . . .

What are you working on next?

Russo:  I’ve got several projects in the works. One is a new, stand-alone action thriller. In addition, I’ve been gathering some short fiction I’ve written maybe for a collection of stories. And I’m also pondering a sequel to The Debt Collector.

Want to Learn More about The Debt Collector?

www.stevenmaxrussobooks.com

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