Interview

Below is an interview conducted by Greg
Escalante, of Juxtapoz Magazine in
November of 2003.

Greg:
So, why am I doing this interview?

Jeff:
Because, you're my son-in-law, you're connected with a
magazine, and I thought it would look good on my web site.

Greg:
Is this an ego-trip, or what?

Jeff:
Just ask the questions as I wrote them out. Please.

Greg:
(Tossing my typed list aside) I'll ask my own questions.

Jeff:
Oh-oh.

Greg:
Why did you decide to become a writer, mysteries no less?

Jeff:
Well, I read a lot, and one day I was complaining to Kristin,
your wife, who also reads mysteries, about one of my
favorite author's latest book. It didn't seem as good as his
earlier stuff. And here's what she said, "If you don't like it,
write your own." Kris is a smart person and if she thought I
could write a book, who was I to argue. So I did. A year
later Six to Five Against was finished.

Greg:
Do you enjoy writing?

Jeff:
(I gave Greg a blank look.) I'm not doing it for the money.

Greg:
Why do you enjoy it? A lot of people agonize when they sit
down to write a simple letter?

Jeff:
Writing fiction, you get to spend a lot of time in a
make-believe world, a world that you've created, and when
you are in that world, you're God.

Greg:
The ultimate power trip . . .

Jeff:
Yeah, I guess you could say that.

Greg:
Are any of the characters in your books based on real
people?

Jeff:
They all are. But they are composites, bits and pieces of
people I've met over the years. I've fused these traits
together and created characters that are new and different.
That is how writers develop characters that seem real.

Greg:
How about your protagonist, Jimmy O'Brien? Is he you?

Jeff:
(Laughing) Yeah, Greg. I'm thirty-four years old, six- feet
one, and a magnet for women.

Greg:
Jeff, there seems to be a lot of similarities. You used to
drink quite a bit and then quit, and like Jimmy,you lived in
Downey and went to high school there. And if the truth
came out, you've probably spent a little time in Las Vegas.

Jeff:
Yeah, but I never met anyone like Candi up there.

Greg:
(Giving me a questioning look.)

Jeff:
We're not going there, Greg. (Laughing, again.) But
seriously, to answer your question, writers have to write
what they know, and they have to feel comfortable in the
world they've created. I'll admit O'Brien and I have things
in common, but overall it's just a few things. I think it was
Robert B. Parker who said, "The average person has
enough personal experiences to write three fiction books.
After that, she has to make it up."

Greg:
So, you're not O'Brien?

Jeff:
Nope.

Greg:
Jeff, I have to wrap this up. I'm late for an art opening.

Jeff:
Okay. I think I'll head to Dolan's and grab a couple of
glazed and a coffee.