Infrequently Asked Questions

What/where is your favorite place to write?

There’s a large converted sunporch on the second floor of my house in upstate New York. A bank of windows looks out onto the woods, and the view changes from season to season. I’m pretty confident that even if I only knew three vowels and ten consonants, I’d still be up there writing.

Which fictional character would you most like to meet? It doesn’t have to be a character in your own work…

Superman. He’s so noble, so decent, and how cool is it that he can fly? Almost every fictional character I’ve ever read is based on someone I’ve met, or could meet. But Superman – he’s faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. I can’t recall ever meeting anybody quite like him.

Do you have a motto or an inspirational line taped to your computer, wall, bulletin board, etc? What is it?

Two. One to write by, one to live by. The first says “Right now – where is the heart and mind of the character you’re writing about?” It’s a constant reminder that the book is about them; not about me. I’m just a conduit. And there are moments when the characters take over so completely that I have to call my wife and say “you won’t believe what Lomax just did.” The other sign isn’t taped to my computer. It’s in my head. “Live every day like it’s September 10th.” It’s not quite the same as “live every day like it’s your last.” It means live each day to the fullest, because tomorrow the world as you know and love it may change forever.

Which traits do you most admire/deplore in your lead character(s)?

Humor and balance. Like a lot of real cops, Mike and Terry have that dark sense of humor that helps them get through the harsh realities of their job. I love their ability to deflect the ugliness by joking their way through the most grisly crime scene. And I admire the fact that even though both men are caught up in the toughest case of their careers, their focus is never far from the needs of their families.

But of course, I wanted my hero characters to be three-dimensional, with real defects and visible warts. Sure, Terry can cross the line and go for a joke at the most inappropriate time. But hopefully that just makes him human, not deplorable.

Do you have a Standard French Poodle like Andre, Lomax's dog?

No, I have a six-year-old Black Lab named Jett. She's a rescue dog. She rescued me four years ago and we've been inseperable ever since.