Crime writer surfed Web for latest novel
LONDON (Reuters) - Thriller writer Lee Child, author of the Jack Reacher novels, hit on the idea for his next novel while surfing the Internet and reading about suicide bombers.
Child came across details about a list of tell-tale signs law enforcement officers around the world use to pick up a potential bomber. He has weaved the ideas into the next tale about his Reacher action hero, a former military policeman who keeps running into deadly problems.
In a telephone interview with Reuters, Child (www.leechild.com) talks about how the Internet has again helped him craft a web of intrigue.
Q: Where does your inspiration come from?
A: The inspiration for the new book came literally from the Web. I was searching idly for fun and I came across some law enforcement sites where there was a list of visual indicators for recognizing a suicide bomber ... 12 points long for a man and 11 points long for a woman. If you hit a significant number of them you are probably looking at a suicide bomber.
Q: What examples are there of Web techniques you use?
A: The book is mostly set in New York and a guy is getting arrested by cops with shotguns so I Googled NYPD shotguns in order to find out what is their standard issue shotgun. I felt I won't use that because this is some kind of specialist unit I will use some kind of specialist weapon. Many sites will tell you what the NYPD normally uses. You spin off that and find a gun that maybe a specialist anti-terrorist unit would use. What is really great about researching on the Web now is you can spin off into blogs ... specialist groups there for a serious purpose or gossip, especially high-pressure professions like the cops. There are a million blogs where they are all bitching and moaning."
Q: Is face-to-face contact with a police officer, guy in the morgue or lawyer still critical for a crime writer?
A: My opinion on that is slightly backwards. I discount the importance of face to face contact. If it is simple information you are going to get the truth and get it fast. If you ask anything more controversial ... the person you are talking to doesn't trust you. I find them (police contacts) very guarded. I am always a little bit suspicious of writers who claim amazing access, some guy in the CIA who tells them everything.
Q: Do you have any issues with the balancing act crime fiction authors face making themselves available, contributing to blogs and your privacy?
A: It is difficult because you have got to be aware that it is basically a promotional function. Most people are great. I find it a bit strange that they want my opinion about something else rather than writing. I regard it as a kind of virtual community as if we were all sitting around somewhere chatting.
Q: Do you think the ease which makes things available on the Web will ultimately help or hinder the growth of crime fiction?
A: I think it is already happening. It has been a long time since I looked up any physical paper about anything. It is all migrating to the Web. Having said that I still like picture books. If I want a really good illustration of something like a gun or a city I still use books or photographs. For some reasons the Web in terms of graphics content doesn't seem quite as satisfying for me."
(Editing by Paul Casciato)
