Ask the Author: Trace Conger
Answered Questions (10)
Trace Conger
Hi, Rodney. Thanks for the question. I would not consider my Mr. Finn or Connor Harding novels "clean," per se, as there is some language and violence given the genre of those books, but you may want to check out my novel, Five Will Die. This is more of a police procedural, so while there is some descriptions of murder scenes (nothing too graphic), there is no "on-screen" violence. I'm sure there is a curse word or two in there, but again, nothing over the top. I felt comfortable letting my teenage daughter read Five Will Die and The White Boy. While they are not YA novels by any stretch, the subject matter isn't anything they would not have been exposed to in any police drama on TV. Hope this helps.
Trace Conger
Hi Lynda. Thanks for the question. As for the inspiration, I've always been interested in why serial killers wrote to the media or the police (many did, going all the way back to Jack the Ripper). It seems as if they are just giving the police more evidence to catch them. While sending these types of letters isn't unique to killers, I always wondered if anyone had sent letters to the police/media BEFORE they started their spree. This was the impetus for FIVE WILL DIE. As for a series (FOUR WILL, etc.) I can't rule it out. I have a few projects already lined up, so those will take priority, but it's an interesting idea to write it as a series.
Trace Conger
It's got to be Hap and Leonard.
Trace Conger
Thanks for the question, Victoria. I have two young ones myself, so I know exactly where you're coming from. The short answer is "no" for a few reasons. First, that part of the story is told in the past tense and is essentially Finn reading the case file and sharing the crime with the reader as background.
Had it been actually happening (instead of having already happened) it would have been much harder to write, and I'm sure I would have held back a lot. But, since Finn is sharing the details of the case file, there is more distance to it (for me anyway).
I will say, however, that the crime itself (the murder of Josh Baker) is directly inspired by the real life murder of James Bulger (England, 1993). I read a lot about the Bulger case and it was a horrific experience. Knowing that such evil exists in the world is more terrifying than any Stephen King novel. I actually wrote a few articles about how deeply that case effected me, again having two children of my own. That part of the process was much worse than writing the scene in The Prison Guard's Son.
I hope that clears it up, and I hope you enjoyed the novel.
Had it been actually happening (instead of having already happened) it would have been much harder to write, and I'm sure I would have held back a lot. But, since Finn is sharing the details of the case file, there is more distance to it (for me anyway).
I will say, however, that the crime itself (the murder of Josh Baker) is directly inspired by the real life murder of James Bulger (England, 1993). I read a lot about the Bulger case and it was a horrific experience. Knowing that such evil exists in the world is more terrifying than any Stephen King novel. I actually wrote a few articles about how deeply that case effected me, again having two children of my own. That part of the process was much worse than writing the scene in The Prison Guard's Son.
I hope that clears it up, and I hope you enjoyed the novel.
Trace Conger
Luckily, I've never had writer's block. To me, it's not a physical thing (rather it's mental) so I'd imagine my cure would be to just sit down and power through.
Trace Conger
Telling lies for a living.
Trace Conger
1) Find authors who know what they're doing and emulate their process. 2) Just write. 3) Never stop trying to surprise yourself. 4) Repeat.
Trace Conger
I'm working on my second novel, "Scar Tissue" to be published in 2015. It's a follow up novel to "The Shadow Broker." I'm also working on a few shorter pieces of suspense fiction.
Trace Conger
I'm not sure if I'm ever "inspired." I just enjoy writing, so it's not a struggle for me. An author can't wait for inspiration. Just write.
Trace Conger
I met a private investigator who dealt in illegal information, which I found fascinating and frightening at the same time. That was the seed from which my book, "The Shadow Broker" grew.
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