Ask the Author: Michael Finkel

“I will attempt to answer any question you might have.” Michael Finkel

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Just finished The Art Thief, which I loved. It would make such a fantastic movie. Is there one in the works? Timothee Chalamet would make a terrific Breitwieser. I hope it's been optioned. (P.S. saw you love The Catcher in the Rye. Me too. I even wrote a novel about it, Caught of Film). Looking forward to your next project! Cheers.

Michael Finkel Hi Tom: Thanks for your kind words and your readership. I agree that Timothee Chalamet could make an excellent Breitwieser. The material has indeed been optioned; let's see what happens. It'll be a while. Please stay tuned. In the meantime, I'm indeed working on a new project.

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Mr Finkel do you have any plans on releasing another book soon? (Please say yes)

Michael Finkel Thanks for your interest. I'm currently working on a new project, but it will be a while (at least two years) before it's ready. Alas, I'm a rather methodical researcher and writer.

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This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)

Michael Finkel My apologies for the delay in responding! Mr. Knight and I are no longer in contact, but I believe that he is essentially living a quiet, near-solitary life, though he has not returned to the woods, so far as I know.

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My son just highly recommended your book " The Art Thief" which I ordered along with " A Stranger in the Woods" I am obsessed with fictional suspense and thrillers so these will be my first non-fictional reads. I have no doubt they will be great reads, just wondering if you have ever considered writing fictional suspense?

Michael Finkel Thank you (and your son) for your readership! Much appreciated. For the time being, at least, I'm continuing with nonfiction. I'm working on a new project now, but as usual, it will take some time. Thanks for trying out nonfiction!

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Michael, I just finished "The Stranger in the Woods" which my family & are I reading for our family book club (my 15-year-old brother-in-law was the one who picked it out!). I loved it despite the sadness of Chris's story. You did a wonderful job describing his inner-life. I'm curious what attracted you to Chris and his story & why you felt his story was worth all the work to tell it? Thank you for writing it!

Michael Finkel Thank you for your readership! I was attracted to the incredible feat of endurance that Chris pulled off. I was attracted to Chris' quiet intelligence. I was even attracted to his prickly, unfriendly personality. And I wanted to write a book that asked this question: what can we do with a person who is unable to live in modern society?

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Hi Michael, I just finished your book and wondered why there are no images of Anne-Catherine or Mireille online?

Michael Finkel Hi Miki: Thanks for your readership. It's crazy but there are virtually no pictures of the art thief's mother or girlfriend found online. Both women were very careful about guarding their privacy, and the era in which the action takes place -- the late 90s to the early 2000s -- was a time when it was significantly easier to avoid making much of a digital footprint. During my research, I did manage to obtain a significant amount of home video clips that show Breitwieser, as well as Anne-Catherine Kleinklas (his girlfriend) and Mireille Stengel (his mother).

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Have you read The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz? It reminds me of your personal story and book True Story but fictionalized. Its a good read, would probably hit home for you in uncomfy ways.

Michael Finkel I did read "The Plot," but I appreciate the recommendation.

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Hey Michael! My name is Shruti. I love to read books as well. I loved all of your books. I also love to write. You and Anne Frank are my greatest inspirations. You capture the essence of each person you write about and your prose is lovely. If you are interested then you should check out the Telugu movie Shyam Singha Roy on Netflix. What is your process for selecting the topics you choose to pursue?

Michael Finkel Thanks Shruti! I will indeed watch "Shyam Singh Roy"; thank you for the suggestion, and that you more for your readership.

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Will you be writing another non-fiction book? I just read all three books and am eager for more!

Michael Finkel I am honored by your readership! Thank you. I do plan to write another book, but I am a rather inefficient writer, alas, so it'll be a while.

Why does the description of this book say that Chris left his home in "Massachusetts", drove to Maine and disappeared into the forest??? It says this on Goodreads and Amazon. I just read your book (loved it btw) and Chris grew up and lived in Maine, not Massachusetts.

Michael Finkel Thanks for reading the book, Dana. Yes, you have pointed out a rather confusing line. Chris, though he grew up in Maine, was working in Mass. installing car and home alarms (after finishing a computer tech school there), and so that is where he began his quest from.

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Hey, I read your book on Christopher this year and found a new passion for reading biographies- thank you for that! I also was completely fascinated with knight, as you were, reading his story. I appreciate how real each page is. knight is a brilliant person and I'm very glad I got the chance to know about him. His contentment with simplicity is inspiring ,even though he himself isn't simple at all. Thanks again:) ?

Michael Finkel Thank you for your kind words, and for your readership. I wish you all the best for 2021. -- Mike Finkel

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What an incredible story! I was genuinely moved by your respectful and thoughtful account of Christopher Knight’s survival and capture. By the end of the book I was moved to tears. You made him so very human and vulnerable. Thank you for distilling your experience and research into such a fine book. Apparently, I have to add a question mark or you won’t be able to read this?

Michael Finkel Thank you so much for the kind comment. The story of Christopher Knight clearly captured your heart, as it did mine. I'm appreciative of your readership.

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Thanks, Mike! Especially for writing an outstanding and thought-provoking book?!

Michael Finkel I'm grateful for your readership and kind words!

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Montana, France. Great combination. How do you divide your time between the two locations?

Michael Finkel Yes, I adore both places. As I have relatively young kids, the school year determines where we spend most of the time (this year, in France) and the school vacations determine when we can move to the other.

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Hi Michael, I thought your book was excellent. I was attending Colby College during some of the time that Chris Knight was in the woods. Your book inspired me to write this poem: https://danielwpolk.org/2019/08/02/north-pond-hermit/ Thanks again for your fine writing and comprehensive storytelling? -Daniel W. Polk

Michael Finkel I really admire the poem, thank you for sending! The line about the "frozen heart" is lovely, and I smiled at the MASH reference, as I am a big fan of that show, but only watched it in reruns, in the time before the internet. I wish you the best of luck and skill on your creative pursuits. -- Mike Finkel

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Hi Michael. I just finished your book The Stranger in the Woods. It was an amazing story, about how one can live with nature. There was some interesting reading how one does not need the technology that many others in society depend on. Have you been able to keep in contact with Christopher?

Michael Finkel Thank you for the very kind words, Keri. Mr. Knight and I are no longer in touch. I would welcome a letter from him any time, but I will not disturb him any more. I will also be forever grateful to Chris for sharing his story with me, and for tolerating all of my visits and my questions.

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Michael, first time reader, long time poster. I read Stranger in the Woods and found it to be a wonderful story made all the more vivid because I am from the back country in Maine, or as we Mainers like to call it: Maine. More of a comment than a question? Thanks!

Michael Finkel Thank you so much, Jenny, for the kind words! I really adore your state, and wish I could spend more time there.

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I recently finished The Stranger in the Woods and enjoyed it very much. I was especially struck by your relationship to Knight, which did not seem to be reciprocated; i.e., the lilac spring and apple pie that were refused; your concern about Knight’s admission to wanting to take a walk with “The Lady of the Woods.” What was it about Knight that accounts for your concern and feelings for him?

Michael Finkel Thanks for your question and my apologies for the delay in responding. It's was Knight's intelligence, and emotional vulnerability, and seemingly complete honesty that captured me. And of course his unique story. There was that moment when I mentioned, in a letter to him, the pleasing synchronicity of the Summer solstice and the super moon, and Knight informed me that he'd been trying in jail to speak with someone about that very same, somewhat obscure topic, that made me feel we had a certain connection. That truly sparked my concern for him. Of course, with a person so unusual as Knight, forming a true bond is nearly impossible, and I'm sure I made several mistakes along the way, but I tried to always do what felt natural.

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I just want to personally thank you for sharing Knight's story with the rest of the world, especially all the little details that came along with it. I've taken an interest with reading again thanks to your book. The last time I read a book was in 2010! Your views regarding isolation really resonated with me and it's comforting to know I'm not the only one out there. Keep it up and best of luck! Cheers!?

Michael Finkel That is very kind of you to send me such an inspiring message. I'm so pleased that you enjoyed reading about Mr. Knight. And I hope you do read more books, or at least not wait 8 years for another! Indeed -- you are not the only solitude-seeker out there. Not at all.

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I am a fan so I want to know when and why you moved to Montana?

Michael Finkel I moved to Montana in 1992 because I love to ski. I stayed because I love Montana.

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