Ask the Author: Josh Lanyon
Answered Questions (338)
Josh Lanyon
Hi Azu!
Because of Tucker's history of abandonment and foster homes, I think by his early thirties he'd have been dating with an eye toward building a life with someone. I think the relationship with Adam was absolutely sincere and that at one point Tucker did believe Adam was the guy. Just as Adam did.
Whereas I think Elliot, a product of 60s hippies, dated with a more experimental and playful attitude. and was perhaps a little more cautious about the concept of settling down. He would be waiting for the real thing to come along but not actively looking for it.
As for employment history, I think Tucker would always have had his eye on the prize of becoming an FBI agent. So college and a bachelor's degree would have been a must, followed by two or three years with the security/investigations division of a large corporation handling things like internal theft, fraud, employee misconduct, workplace threats, background investigations, and maybe liaison work with local law enforcement. Then I think he would have applied to the FBI as soon as he had the experience and could successfully compete against other equally qualified candidates.
At one point I did consider a military background for Tucker, but that would have shaped him significantly and we'd have heard about his military experience during the course of the trilogy.
Because of Tucker's history of abandonment and foster homes, I think by his early thirties he'd have been dating with an eye toward building a life with someone. I think the relationship with Adam was absolutely sincere and that at one point Tucker did believe Adam was the guy. Just as Adam did.
Whereas I think Elliot, a product of 60s hippies, dated with a more experimental and playful attitude. and was perhaps a little more cautious about the concept of settling down. He would be waiting for the real thing to come along but not actively looking for it.
As for employment history, I think Tucker would always have had his eye on the prize of becoming an FBI agent. So college and a bachelor's degree would have been a must, followed by two or three years with the security/investigations division of a large corporation handling things like internal theft, fraud, employee misconduct, workplace threats, background investigations, and maybe liaison work with local law enforcement. Then I think he would have applied to the FBI as soon as he had the experience and could successfully compete against other equally qualified candidates.
At one point I did consider a military background for Tucker, but that would have shaped him significantly and we'd have heard about his military experience during the course of the trilogy.
Josh Lanyon
Hi Mary,
Unfortunately, I've reached an age where there are a lot more complications and obligations in my life -- such as helping to care for an aging parent.
I'm still grieving the death of my father.
In addition--or maybe due to all that--I write very slowly now and that is unlikely to change.
The Medicine Man Murders (book 6 in the Art of Murder series) is a complicated book. I don't want to rush it. I want to be able to deliver the book readers are hoping for. Nor is it the last book in the series; realistically, the series probably won't wind up until 2029.
But, yes, in the meantime there will be other books, books that take less mental and emotional energy.
Unfortunately, I've reached an age where there are a lot more complications and obligations in my life -- such as helping to care for an aging parent.
I'm still grieving the death of my father.
In addition--or maybe due to all that--I write very slowly now and that is unlikely to change.
The Medicine Man Murders (book 6 in the Art of Murder series) is a complicated book. I don't want to rush it. I want to be able to deliver the book readers are hoping for. Nor is it the last book in the series; realistically, the series probably won't wind up until 2029.
But, yes, in the meantime there will be other books, books that take less mental and emotional energy.
Josh Lanyon
Hi! I'm so glad you're enjoying the series.
Best case scenario would see The Medicine Man Murders published sometime in spring 2027.
Thanks for asking!
Best case scenario would see The Medicine Man Murders published sometime in spring 2027.
Thanks for asking!
Josh Lanyon
Thank you for asking!
Assuming I manage to finish The 12.2 Per Cent Solution by the end of the year, The Medicine Man Murders should be first up in 2027. Which would mean (best case scenario) Spring 2027.
Assuming I manage to finish The 12.2 Per Cent Solution by the end of the year, The Medicine Man Murders should be first up in 2027. Which would mean (best case scenario) Spring 2027.
Josh Lanyon
HI Azu,
I think all of my agents would have difficulty with what's going on now, but different personality types handle things differently. Jason would quit the first time he was asked to do anything remotely emigration-related--and probably before that. I think he'd probably join an organization like the London-based Art Loss Register (most likely), Interpol, or maybe even UNESCO. All of which would be hard on his relationship with Sam -- but it's in the cards that two workaholics would always have to stretch and stretch to make their relationship work, so while there would be a lot of travel involved, I think they would make the conscious choice to have a home base together and do the necessary work to make their relationship a priority.
Sam might write another book at some point, but he would not be able to settle into a writing career. That's just not him. Nor does he have the patience for teaching. He'd probably spend the next twenty years actively pursuing bad guys. That's just how he's built and that's his primary directive. I think his most likely move would be to become an independent consultant for violent crimes task forces. Working with federal task forces, state AGs, major city PDs, etc. Another option might be Interpol--again as a task force consultant--which I could see perhaps happening if Jason were to go the Interpol route. But I think Sam would prefer to stay stateside, preferably in the western US.
I think my guys in rural RAs --Adam Darling, Archie Crane, Lucas and Riley--might opt for quiet resistance. Yes, rural outposts tend to be in the heart of conservatism, but not all conservatives are lost to commonsense and decency and belief in the Constitution. Also most FBI agents believe--take pride--in knowing they do important, even vital work. It would be pretty demoralizing to be reduced to the busy-work of helping to fill made-up and nonsensical quotas.
Shane would probably go the same route as Jason: joining some kind of art recovery organization although he would probably stay stateside and might opt to go private sector.
Rory might team up with Skylar to work on cold case crimes.
Given his background, no way in hell would Elliot be able to continue at the Bureau (he had to listen to Roland ranting about his choices BEFORE the current political situation). I think he would return to teaching (to Roland's relief).
I think Tucker might have the most trouble. He's the most conservative and traditional of my agents, and the most attached emotionally to the Bureau. It's a big part of his identity. But he's in a blue state and he would not be the only agent struggling. I think he would do his best to navigate through the ethical and moral quagmire for as long as possible.
And hey, maybe relief will come before they're all pushed to the wall.
I think all of my agents would have difficulty with what's going on now, but different personality types handle things differently. Jason would quit the first time he was asked to do anything remotely emigration-related--and probably before that. I think he'd probably join an organization like the London-based Art Loss Register (most likely), Interpol, or maybe even UNESCO. All of which would be hard on his relationship with Sam -- but it's in the cards that two workaholics would always have to stretch and stretch to make their relationship work, so while there would be a lot of travel involved, I think they would make the conscious choice to have a home base together and do the necessary work to make their relationship a priority.
Sam might write another book at some point, but he would not be able to settle into a writing career. That's just not him. Nor does he have the patience for teaching. He'd probably spend the next twenty years actively pursuing bad guys. That's just how he's built and that's his primary directive. I think his most likely move would be to become an independent consultant for violent crimes task forces. Working with federal task forces, state AGs, major city PDs, etc. Another option might be Interpol--again as a task force consultant--which I could see perhaps happening if Jason were to go the Interpol route. But I think Sam would prefer to stay stateside, preferably in the western US.
I think my guys in rural RAs --Adam Darling, Archie Crane, Lucas and Riley--might opt for quiet resistance. Yes, rural outposts tend to be in the heart of conservatism, but not all conservatives are lost to commonsense and decency and belief in the Constitution. Also most FBI agents believe--take pride--in knowing they do important, even vital work. It would be pretty demoralizing to be reduced to the busy-work of helping to fill made-up and nonsensical quotas.
Shane would probably go the same route as Jason: joining some kind of art recovery organization although he would probably stay stateside and might opt to go private sector.
Rory might team up with Skylar to work on cold case crimes.
Given his background, no way in hell would Elliot be able to continue at the Bureau (he had to listen to Roland ranting about his choices BEFORE the current political situation). I think he would return to teaching (to Roland's relief).
I think Tucker might have the most trouble. He's the most conservative and traditional of my agents, and the most attached emotionally to the Bureau. It's a big part of his identity. But he's in a blue state and he would not be the only agent struggling. I think he would do his best to navigate through the ethical and moral quagmire for as long as possible.
And hey, maybe relief will come before they're all pushed to the wall.
Josh Lanyon
Hi frannie! Although I don't have immediate plans for the next books in the S&S series, I can't imagine not continuing at some point. There are some big life changing events coming up for Ellery and Jack, and I think I'd be as disappointed as readers if I didn't write those chapters. :-)
Josh Lanyon
This answer contains spoilers…
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Josh Lanyon
Assuming I do manage to write the next three books in the series, they will follow a separate story arc. The first story arc completed with Bell, Book and Scandal. The series could easily end with that book.
Josh Lanyon
All of Sam's close friendships were formed in his youth in Wyoming. I'm not sure Sam would consider Petty a friend. He would not confide anything particularly sensitive or important to him, for example.
That said, he undoubtedly cared more for Petty than his other casual sexual partners. It's possible that in time--had Jason not come along--he might have developed deeper feelings for him.
I would guess that Petty has had an active social and sexual life. He had special feelings for Sam, no doubt, but Sam would not have been his first love--or his last.
That said, he undoubtedly cared more for Petty than his other casual sexual partners. It's possible that in time--had Jason not come along--he might have developed deeper feelings for him.
I would guess that Petty has had an active social and sexual life. He had special feelings for Sam, no doubt, but Sam would not have been his first love--or his last.
Josh Lanyon
Many excellent FBI agents are sprinkled throughout the country. The top positions in the Bureau are extremely competitive, extremely sought after, and since--in theory--the FBI only hires the best of the best, it goes without saying that many of the best agents will not end up in in DC or in the more prestigious offices,
We don't know Petty's backstory, but perhaps one of the bonds between himself and Sam was the fact that they both come from rural western backgrounds. We know that Sam has mentioned retiring to Montana, so maybe Petty has a similiar affinity for the west.
We don't know Petty's backstory, but perhaps one of the bonds between himself and Sam was the fact that they both come from rural western backgrounds. We know that Sam has mentioned retiring to Montana, so maybe Petty has a similiar affinity for the west.
Josh Lanyon
Sam would have had a number of sexual liasons through the years. He would not have taken any of them seriously. There were probably almost always one-offs and he would not have considered them relationships. Even Petty, with whom he did sort of have *some* kind of semi-regular contact would not have qualified as a relationship in Sam's mind.
Josh Lanyon
I wouldn't say Petty prefers older guys. I think, typically, he would prefer men his own age. His attraction to Sam would be specific to Sam--this would also be true of Jason. Jason isn't particularly interested in older guys; he's interested in Sam.
For Petty, some of the attraction would be Sam's legendary status, his position of authority, his power within the Bureau--Sam is now chief of a unit Petty would love to belong to. Sam is a charismatic personality (at least to the people who admire him). I'm sure Petty would be somewhat flattered that Sam found him attractive, attractive enough to proposition. And we know that Sam is sexually experienced, sexually...accomplished. So there are lots of things to attract Petty that would have nothing to do with the age difference.
As far as a standalone story, unfortunately, I'm usually not interested enough in my supporting characters to write their stories. I guess I spend too much time developing them into memorable supporting characters. It's hard to regard them as anything else. It's the same situation with David Bradley in the Dangerous Ground series.
For Petty, some of the attraction would be Sam's legendary status, his position of authority, his power within the Bureau--Sam is now chief of a unit Petty would love to belong to. Sam is a charismatic personality (at least to the people who admire him). I'm sure Petty would be somewhat flattered that Sam found him attractive, attractive enough to proposition. And we know that Sam is sexually experienced, sexually...accomplished. So there are lots of things to attract Petty that would have nothing to do with the age difference.
As far as a standalone story, unfortunately, I'm usually not interested enough in my supporting characters to write their stories. I guess I spend too much time developing them into memorable supporting characters. It's hard to regard them as anything else. It's the same situation with David Bradley in the Dangerous Ground series.
Josh Lanyon
Thank you, Stormymonday. That's such a lovely thing to say. I haven't completely given up on the idea of that sequel, although I can't imagine when I would find the time for it. But it's one of the ones I'd still love to tackle. We'll see.
Josh Lanyon
This was an intriguing question. Several of my characters already have tattoos: Will (Dangerous Ground), Pierce (Stranger on the Shore), Alastair (Strange Fortune), but I was sure there were more, so I threw it out to my Patreons and they pointed out that Gene (Fade to Black) had one -- the whole story is tattoo-based, and Jack (Secrets and Scrabble) took the 5th regarding tattoos in an interview. Also, several of us feel that John in Bedknobs and Broomsticks has a tattoo. It's probably easier to come up with characters who would NOT get a tattoo -- starting with Christopher Holmes and Adrien English. LOL
Josh Lanyon
Hello RF K! No, that link expired. I haven't reloaded the file anywhere.
Josh Lanyon
Thank you so much for those lovely words. At this point in time, I feel it's unlikely I'll do a follow up to Winter. It just feels like it ended at the right moment, and that it would almost spoil it to try to pick up again.
Josh Lanyon
Hi Virginia,
Yes, the last couple of years have not been conductive to writing. However, while I can't give an exact date, the 12.2 Per-Cent Solution has only been delayed not canceled. The book is the final installment in the series and will definitely happen.
Yes, the last couple of years have not been conductive to writing. However, while I can't give an exact date, the 12.2 Per-Cent Solution has only been delayed not canceled. The book is the final installment in the series and will definitely happen.
Josh Lanyon
Hi Jeannie, Corpse at Captain's Seat is available in print, digital, and soon in audio. 12.2 per-cent solution has been pushed back until the (probably late) autumn. I do plan on getting it out this year. I just can't give an exact date at this time.
Josh Lanyon
Hi there! Carina Press currently holds the digital rights to Snowball in Hell, and Carina doesn't publish on Smashwords, so at this time I have no control over that. However, as soon as I get those rights back, I do plan on republishing on Smashwords as well as all the current platforms.
Josh Lanyon
Matt's working on it now, so I'm guessing some time in August?
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