Interview J. D. Webb

by

Jim Green

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Mr. J. D. Webb concerning his writing and especially his soon-to-be published novel, Shepherd’s Pie. J. D. is a mystery writer who has been compared to some of the premier writers in the genre. What follows are his enlightening comments on himself and his works.

1) Ah, ha! A private detective writer! How grand! J. D., do you have any specific writer whom you would consider your mentor, at least in style? Maybe like a Raymond Chandler, Mickey Spillane, or John MacDonald?

I’m an avid reader of mysteries so I hope I take a bit of style from all the great ones. Shepherd’s Pie’s characters have been compared to Spenser and Susan of Robert Parker, and those of Mickey Spillane. I’m humbled by the comparison.

2) Is this your first published work, or are their others? Can you share with us something about your writing background?

This is my first book. I have two others coming out next year one of which is a sequel to Shepherd’s Pie. I’ve written all my life, but until I ‘retired’ four years ago, I never had the opportunity to put together a novel.

3) Novels such as Shepherd’s Pie usually require an in depth knowledge of law enforcement. Talk to us about your writing preparation, your research methods, and the like.

Fortunately I have a sister who is with the Illinois state police and I have a great writing group who are good at police procedure. And it never hurts to read up on police procedure and use the internet or the library for technical questions.

4) Do you have a “day job,” or is writing your mainstay?

My day job is writing now. And I couldn’t be happier.

5) Lots of us writers often have quirky places to write or strange moments of inspiration. How about for you? When and where do you find the greatest inspiration?

People watching is my mainstay. I usually start with a simple idea and then begin asking ‘what if’ questions. The idea for my book due out in December 2007, Her Name is Mommy, came from a day when I was sitting on a bench in a mall waiting for my wife to finish shopping. I saw a tot on a bench opposite me sitting all alone and I got to worrying about where her parents were. Fortunately they were not far away, but I began with my ‘what ifs’ and before you know it a story developed about a child on a bench waiting for her mother. Her mommy had been kidnapped from the mall.

6) What about works in progress? Surely you have other projects calling to you. Tell us about them.

My current work in progress is titled The Smudge. Paralegal Trisha Morgan only wants to use the ATM one nasty night and go home. She swipes a smudge from the screen to better see and discovers her hand is covered in blood. A moan startles her and she finds a dying woman in the alley next to the ATM. Suddenly Trish finds herself dealing with a murderer, using her cunning and wits just to stay alive. And I have a western I’ve been trying to finish for years. Maybe some day.

7) Many private detective authors keep their main characters from book to book. How about Mike Shepherd? Is he part of a series?

Yes, the sequel is Her Name Is Mommy to be released in December 2007 and I’m beginning the third book in the series tentatively titled Death Won’t Wait.

8) What about your writing process, your building of the story, you know, the old plot, characters, setting, bit. Talk to us about how you process, how you get an idea, how you develop, how you finally build what it is you want.

When I get an idea for a novel I let the plot mull around in my mind for a week or so. Then I write out a blurb. Just a paragraph or two. After that I try to come up with a beginning that jumps into some action. I’m one of those just-sit-down-and-write-the-darn-thing writers so I will start a first chapter. When I have what I think is a good idea I sit down and write the darn thing. I do a time line as I’m writing, but I don’t outline or do a synopsis as some people. It’s just not me. I have to have my characters direct the way they want this to play out. Sometimes no matter how much I tell them to go one way, they don’t. As long as it fits my plot, I let them. Don’t tell them I said that.

9) Do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring authors?

Writing is a very lonely undertaking. Be aware. Don’t be afraid of criticism or rejection. And being a writer you will get a bunch of both. I suggest keep your day job. Writing is not a way to become rich. But it is a way to enjoy satisfaction and fulfillment. A writer’s mantra should be--butt in the chair. The best thing to do is like anything else. Practice your craft. Read what you are writing. If it’s mysteries, read mysteries. Read the how-to books. Go to writer’s conferences, join a writer’s group, and subscribe to writer’s magazines. I do all of these things. And edit, edit, edit.

10) We’re coming to the end of this interview. One final question, okay? A hundred years from now, what would you like the world to remember about J. D. Webb as an American author?

I would like my readers to be able to say they were entertained and they were sad when my books ended because they were really into the story. More than anything I’d like to be remembered as a nice guy.