Lawrence Block

answers the Usual Questions

Lawrence Block

Lawrence Block is a New York City-based writer, best known for his works of crime and suspense. His best-loved series are the burglar series with Bernie Rhodenbarr and the Matt Scudder series.

Block has also written well and often about the craft of writing, including his books Telling Lies For Fun & Profit, and The Liar's Bible.

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

Sometimes.

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

Once at a signing a fan was angry that Jan Keane, Scudder's girlfriend in one book, was no longer part of his life. "Things just didn't work out," I said, but she wasn't having any. Later I got to thinking about that fictional relationship, and about the continuing role ex-lovers play in ones life, and a substantial subplot in The Devil Knows You're Dead was the result.

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

John O'Hara.

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

I've shared a spaceship with the erstwhile Lynne Wood for the past thirty years, and find the company so congenial I don't much care where the ship's headed, or if it ever gets there.

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

Just about anybody else. It's a good thing Ms. Wood and I found each other.

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

My MacBook Air. I'm assuming the spaceship's got a good wi-fi connection. If not, sorry, I'm not going.

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

Well, my chief motivators are Ego and Avarice. You do the math.

What is the special satisfaction of your work?

That books written primarily to please myself should find a receptive audience.

submitted by Lawrence Block

16 October 2013

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Just the facts:
Born: June 24, 1938, Buffalo NY
Resides: New York City
Bibliography/Awards: