Raymond Benson

answers the Usual Questions

Raymond Benson

Raymond Benson is the author of the acclaimed "Black Stiletto" series. He is mostly known for being commissioned by the James Bond literary copyright holders between 1996-2002 to take over writing the 007 novels.

His book THE JAMES BOND BEDSIDE COMPANION, an encyclopedic work on the 007 phenomenon, was first published in 1984 and was nominated for an Edgar Allan Poe Award by Mystery Writers of America for Best Biographical/Critical Work. (from his web site)

Has your interaction with fans, for example, at conventions, affected your work?

Any positive feedback from fans is always encouraging and gratifying. Those things are always good for motivation and ego. So, sure, I would say "yes." Then again, if it's negative feedback, then they're not really fans, are they?

Is there any particular incident (a letter, a meeting, a comment that stands out?

I get emails and letters from fans all the time. Most are very kind. When I was doing James Bond novels, though, there were the occasional death threats. Those came with the territory of a big franchise like 007.

Do you have a favourite author or book (or writer or film or series) that has influenced you or that you return to?

Ian Fleming was a huge influence when I was young. My favorite living author is currently Ruth Rendell. Everything she does is brilliant.

Who is the person you would most like to be trapped in a lift with? or a spaceship?

If it's not my wife, whom I would prefer, then it might as well be Kate Upton.

Who is the person you would most DISlike to be trapped in a lift with? Or a spaceship?

Adolf Hitler.

What would you pack for space? (Is there a food, beverage, book, teddy bear, etc that you couldn't do without?)

Sheesh, really? Okay, I'd have to have those new Oreo "megastuf" cookies and a Blu-ray disk of 2001: A Space Odyssey (along with the equipment with which to watch it).

What is the most important thing you would like to get/achieve from your work?

That's a hard one! Hmmm... maybe...Success? Money? Fame? That wonderful feeling of having accomplished something?

What is the special satisfaction of your work?

I can work at home and do what I want. Life is good.

submitted by Raymond Benson

8 July 2014

For other answers to The Usual Questions Click here

Just the facts:
Born: Midland, Texas... a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.
Resides: Chicago area, USA.
Bibliography/Awards:
Yikes. Okay, 32 published titles, lots of nominations, a couple of awards here and there. Wikipedia actually has a fairly accurate page about me, or have a look at my website, www.raymondbenson.com. The most humbling honor I've received was the erection of a permanent museum in Japan dedicated to one of my novels (The 007 Man With the Red Tattoo Museum in Naoshima, Japan).

Web site:
www.raymondbenson.com
www.theblackstiletto.net
Facebook
@RaymondBenson (Twitter)

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