What’s The Story?

Bestselling writer and journalist Kevin Flanagan interviews exciting new voices in the world of publishing. This week it is the author Michael Haskins who has just published his new book Alibi for Evil

What were the main challenges in writing your book, Michael?

One challenge is bringing crime to the Florida Keys. We're not Miami, not even close! I've had to take my characters out of South Florida on one or more occasions because the crime that interested me just wouldn't happen in the Keys.

The other challenge is to portray Key West as truthfully as possible. Many of my readers have visited, and some live here now, and if I make a mistake, they let me know about it.

Series vs. one-off-book – your thoughts?

When I began writing mainstream publishers wanted a series from a new writer. Agents weren't interested unless a new writer had a series. So I went with a series. I probably would have anyway, since so many of my favorite mystery writers have series and I enjoy learning more about the characters in each book.

What is the hardest part of writing?

Writing! I found it hard at first to accept that my characters began to take over the story as I wrote it. I find myself half-way through a book, beginning a chapter I've worked out in my head, only to find it is out of character. Makes me work harder. Once, I had to rewrite the ending because I realized it was out of character. I learned a lot from that one incident.

Where do you like to write – what is your routine?

I write at my home office surrounded by shelves of books. I normally like to write in the morning, read in the afternoon and rewrite before dinner. I do that Monday to Friday and goof off on the weekends or catch up on my reading.

How long did it take you to write your latest book?

I have been trying to write two books a year. It has been challenging and also kept me out of bars and slowed down my social life. I try to write a minimum of one-thousand words a day. On a good day, I write more.

What do you do when you are not writing – do you have a day job?

I read. I live in stilt house, 8-feet above sea level. I have turned under the house into an extra room with a TV and bar. Most afternoon I sit downstairs with my dog, water the vines and plants, and end the afternoon with a cigar and pint while watching the news. If it's cool enough, I will read downstairs, leaving my wife upstairs enjoying her peace and quiet.

Do you work with an outline or just write?

As I said earlier, I know the beginning and think I've figured out the middle and end. Because it's a series, I have index cards with my characters traits, hair color, eye color, height, what weapon they use, and a little background. After each book I usually update the index cards with some new trait I've discovered my character has.

How important is marketing and social media?

Unless you have a major publisher behind you, you are your own PR person. Social media is a tool that knows no boundaries. If you are lucky enough to afford social media programs that allow others to do the daily grind, as I do, it's great because it doesn't take away from my writing time. You have to set priorities.

What advice would you have for other writers?  

Read as well as write. I tell people that come up to me and say they don't have the time, if they wrote only one page a day, they'd have a 300 page book in a year.

What’s your next step?

My new book is out and I am working on my next one. Maybe this Friday I'll cheat and sneak off to the Smokin' Tuna for a cigar and Jameson. Writers spend a lot of time with their imaginary friends, so it's necessary to work on their social skills!

Alibi for Evil: A Mick Murphy Key West Mystery (Series Book 8) by Michael Haskins is available here

Kevin Flanagan has published two bestsellers: Maximum Points – Minimum Panic and Everyday Genius. He is the MD of the BecreativeMediaGroup which has created supplements for The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and The Sunday Times. kevin@becreative.ie