J |
| That's Mike Stotter between Ali Karim and George Easter |
Jeff––Saturday
A week ago,
Mike Stotter, the nonpareil editor-in-chief of SHOTS Crime & Thriller Magazine
did me the distinct honor of publishing an essay I’d written summarily
describing my journey thus far into the writing life. Titled, “How Did I End Up
Here?” it briefly traces my youngster and lawyer related writing efforts, my
successful (and continuing) 14-book Andreas Kaldis series (just released in fresh
new covers from Severn House), and my soon-to-be-released debut novel, A STUDY
IN SECRETS, in “The Redacted Man” series.
Here’s a slightly re-titled (with pun intended) version of my essay:
I
think it’s fair to ask me, why after publishing fourteen critically acclaimed,
Greece-based Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis police procedurals I decided to
create a brand-new mystery series for Severn House. One set in New York City
featuring a Sherlock Holmes-worthy amateur sleuth possessing a complicated
George Smiley retired-secret-agent past. A Study in Secrets is
the debut novel in my “Redacted Man” series releasing on February 3rd in
the UK and US.
Perhaps a bit more background
on my protagonist and what he confronts in A Study in Secrets will
answer why I’ve added this very different mystery series to my
repertoire.
Michael A is a true gentleman
who lives a quiet, comfortable life since retiring from the intelligence
services. Practically a recluse and partially handicapped, he spends his days
imagining the lives of the anonymous people he watches in the park beneath the
windows of his elegant New York City townhouse–number 221–his every need tended
to by his housekeeper, Mrs. Baker.
For decades Michael has taken
great care not to get involved in the lives of those he observes…until one day
everything changes.
Each morning for weeks he’s
watched a girl sit in the park at dawn. Always alone. Always watchful. And when
the sun rises, she vanishes, as if she were never there. One day her routine
changes–and Michael realizes she faces terrible danger. For reasons unclear
even to himself, he makes an uncharacteristic decision to abandon his solitude
and help her.
Soon, Michael finds himself
confronting the New York City underworld in an unexpected search for a
priceless missing treasure. He'll have to rely upon all the tricks of his
former trade and resurrect long neglected relationships if he's to keep not
just himself, but his new friend, alive.
All of which leads me to ask,
how can any mystery writer not love a protagonist like Michael A? Powerful
story lines pack every decade of his life, vivid ancillary characters virtually
spring to life in his wake, and deep-seated societal attitudes are explored and
confronted without a bit of preaching required.
Michael A is a character I’ve
sought to bring to life for nearly a decade, all in furtherance of a
storytelling desire that’s percolated within me for at least half a century. It
was with me when as a child I found myself making up stories every night as I
fell off to sleep. And it was there with me in high school when I thought I
could make it as a writer … until I realized how unlikely I was to earn a
living as one––leading me to become a lawyer.
Those
years practicing law played an unexpected role in my emergence as a creative
writer. And by that I don’t mean they taught me to be creative with the facts.
Rather, they developed my style, gave me my voice, taught me how to write
clearly, concisely and convincingly – and to do so quickly.
The
practice of law also taught me how to graciously accept and channel criticism,
a vital skill for one to develop if as a writer you wish to survive critical
analyses of your work by your editors, critics and reviewers.
So,
here I am, more than 20 years into the crime writing life; overjoyed by the
many friends my wife and I have made in our new mystery-laden world and the
host of plaudits my work has received from colleagues I deeply respect and
admire. But most of all, I feel blessed that the dream I carried as a young boy
to someday be a writer has come true.
The
big question now is, what happens next?
Whatever
it is, I’m looking forward to it, for I’ve no doubt it’s going to be an
adventure. One of the more likely scenarios will soon see my Greece-based
series come to life in the media. That should be fun.
And
speaking of fun, are you aware of the familial link I share with Sherlock
Holmes? It’s a little-known fact I stumbled upon as a teenager devouring all
things Holmesian. Since then, I’ve always had a soft spot for Sherlock, so
titling the first book in my new series A Study in
Secrets seemed only natural as an
homage to the very first Sir Arthur Conan Doyle novel introducing Holmes and
Watson.
But
before I reveal to you my little secret, perhaps you might answer this
question: What is name of Sherlock Holmes’ father?
If
you got that right, you’ve unearthed my secret, for his name is Siger Holmes.
And he would much appreciate you buying a copy of the latest mystery novel to
bear his family name on the cover. It’s available now for pre-order.
––Jeff
Jeff’s Events (still in formation)
2025
All Live Events
Saturday, February 7, 3:00 p.m. CT
Murder By The Book
Author Speaking and Signing
Houston, TX
Wednesday, February 11, 6:00 p.m. ET
Mysterious Bookshop
Author Speaking and Signing
New York, NY
Thursday, March 26, 7:00 p.m. MT
The Poisoned Pen Bookstore
Author Speaking and Signing
Scottsdale, AZ
Friday, April 10, 6:30 p.m.
Mystery Lovers Bookshop
Author Speaking and Signing
Pittsburgh, PA
