How have you grown as a writer from your first book back in 1985 to your most recent in 2002?

Black Water Book Review Excerpt Archie and Gwen Wildcraft seem to have it all. He's a young cop and she's a beautiful woman with a head for business. Then their promising future together is brutally put to an end. Gwen's found dead in the couple's home. And Archie's got a bullet in his brain, barely clinging to life. All clues point to a botched murder/suicide. But detective Merci Rayborn's on the case and she suspects there's more to the story than just the evidence. Complete Review

I think I'm more economical, more imaginative, less prone to easy situations and emotions, better at creating suspense. I think most writers get better as they get older.

You novels mainly fall into the crime genre. Have you ever considered writing other types of novels?

I'd like to try true crime. A mainstream novel, maybe. I like crime fiction, though. It just seems to suit me.

Writers just want to write. But once a book's published, there are book signings, interviews and other public appearances that go hand-in-hand with a title's release. How have you dealt with the fame that goes with being a successful author?

Book tours and signings and what have you are really pretty enjoyable. You get to meet some of your readers, see cities you might not get to see, occasionally stay in hotel rooms with plush bath robes. The only downside is that you're not writing. By the time you get ready, do a gig, then get home and unpack/unwind, you've definitely lost some time.

Walk us through a typical writing day in the life of T. Jefferson Parker.

Up at 6, writing by 6:30, lunch at noon, work until 5. Understand, though, that it's not all pure writing time. There is the business of being a writer to attend to. The duties of running a house and being a husband and a father. Sometimes I'll write nine hours in a day. Sometimes one.

Generally, how many pages do you have at the end of your writing day?

I shot for six pages a day on Cold Pursuit. I pretty much got 'em.

Many writers struggle with making their characters real. How do you flesh out your characters?

It has to do with understanding not only who they are but how they present themselves. As the author, you need to have a pretty clear picture of what this character wants and what he/she will do to get it, and what it ultimately will cost them to attain it. I think you arrive at these things with some deliberation, daydreaming, reflection, whatever you want to call it. Most of my characters are composites of people I know or people I've read about.

What's the one piece of advice you'd give to someone trying to sell their novel?

Make it as good as you can before approaching an agent or publisher. I mean, really make it shine. Make it logical. Make it work. Make it good. I think too many would-be writers want to hurry things up. That's a natural instinct, but you've got to control yourself and remember that you need to tell a good story. If you can do that, you'll have no trouble at all finding an agent and publisher.

A very special thanks to T. Jefferson Parker for taking time out of his busy writing schedule to talk with us - in the middle of a deadline no less! Check the FictionAddiction.NET Events Calendar to find out when Parker's coming to your town. And you can always purchase any of his novels, including his new release Black Water, through this site by visiting Amazon.com, Books-A-Million, Barnes & Noble or visit your favorite bookstore for more details.