Q: Why did you set your first mystery in Silicon Valley?
A: Because it’s a fascinating place that’s a magnet for talented people from all over the world. It represents one of those rare times and places where people come together to transform the way we live and to change the course of human history. It’s incredibly exciting, and in my book I wanted to show what drives these unusual folks.
Unfortunately the Valley also has its opportunists, and its dark side. You’ve got counterfeiting, black markets, industrial espionage, and creative if not fraudulent accounting schemes. But all this drama and intrigue can definitely make for an interesting murder mystery!
Q: Why did you choose a restaurateur as your amateur sleuth?
A: Writing the Lea Sherwood series lets me combine several things I love: mysteries, writing, and food and restaurants. I think Lea has lots of great adventures ahead of her. After all, her restaurant, Panache, is a crossroads for an eclectic clientele. I’m looking forward to seeing who comes through the door.
Q: How has your background as a business writer helped shape your first book?
A: The world of business has inherent drama and conflict. People are pursuing their dreams, embroiled in high-stakes takeover plots, or just trying not to get axed! There are power struggles, office politics, raging egos, back-stabbing, gossip, pettiness, and envy on a gargantuan scale. I’ve seen many personal dramas played out, and in my book I’ve tried to show the challenge, the elation, and the desperation that goes with the territory.
I might mention that in my 20s I was lucky enough to discover the great novels of Cameron Hawley, which really bring to life the daily struggles of those who toil in corporations. I’ve read his classic, Executive Suite, many times. I have been shocked in recent years, though, to see the depths to which so many executives have sunk when it comes to enriching themselves at the expense of a company’s shareholders and employees. They really seem to think that those who die with the most toys win—and they’ll stoop to anything to line their pockets. I hope this trend can be reversed, because we’re all paying a terrible price for it.
Q: Where do you get your plot ideas?
A: Absolutely everywhere. From the news, overheard remarks, events that occur in my life, or the experiences of friends. I have a bulging file of ideas for stories and characters and even snippets of conversations that I’ve written down. (The bits of conversation that Lea overhears in her restaurant are likely as not taken from real life.) Sometimes I feel like a magpie, collecting all sorts of interesting tidbits, which somehow come together in my subconscious to form a story.
Q: In what ways are you like or different from Lea Sherwood?
A: We’re both curious about everything and like all kinds of people. We both feel you can keep learning all your life, and growing as a person. We both believe that developing an aesthetic appreciation for food can enhance your life. But I’m not a professional chef, and I admire Lea’s tenacity in opening and running her own restaurant. She works long and hard days. Her personal life is also a bit more unsettled than mine. She’s been single for a long time and is hoping Paul is the one.
Q: Who are your favorite mystery or suspense writers?
A: Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Rex Stout, Eric Ambler, Patricia Cornwell, Scott Turow, Sue Grafton, and Michael Crichton lead the list. I also like many of the newer mystery writers being published. I have to say it’s an exciting time to be a reader—there are so many outstanding mysteries to choose from.
Q: What advice would you give someone who wants to be a writer?
A: That you must need to write, because it takes years to learn all the elements of the craft. You should also feel that you have something to say. Then there’s the difficulty of getting published. Many of the writers we know and love had their first books rejected 20 or 30 times. And that’s not counting books of theirs that never got published. So, if you don’t have a hunger to write and a real love of writing to sustain you through all that, it will be even more difficult. Really, it’s the joy and the satisfaction from the actual writing that keep me going.
Q: What prepared you for a life of crime (writing)?
A: I’d say developing a code language in sixth grade so my best friend and I could pass secret notes in class. And for some reason about then I became hooked on the book I Led Three Lives, by Herb Philbrick, who was a triple agent during the Cold War. I must have read it three or four times. I also loved a book my father bought me on handwriting analysis, and I had fun trying to reveal my friends’ hidden traits.
Q: Having cats seems to be almost a prerequisite for being a mystery writer. Are you any different?
A: Not at all. I side squarely with my colleagues on this burning issue. Cats are boon companions, and our three are definitely part of the family.