Around the Globe with JERRY HOOTEN

This week, my landlord, after starting 15 months ago, finally completes putting in my central air conditioning...right in time for the cool down. Sigh! Today, I hop in my transporter, pick up author Jerry Hooten, and we're off to Cabo San Lucas where we partake in margaritas in the El Squid Roe bar. It's where i snapped his picture for this week's interview. Speaking of...

1. Who is Jerry Hooten and what makes you the most fascinating person in your city?

My ‘anomonimity ‘ (I think I made up a word.) Ask anyone “Who is Jerry Hooten” and you will get the same response. “Who?”

2. Without revealing a deep dark secret (unless you want to), what one thing would people be surprised to learn about you?

I have been pretty well trained to be a first class burglar. Nice to have a fallback career.

3. What interested you to be become a writer rather than something else such as becoming an Arctic explorer?

I think that meeting Michael Connelly and having the opportunity to assist him with some of his research for his books. I had been a fan of his from the beginning. I had been a writer wannabe since I took typing in High School.

4. Writers are readers. With which author(s) would you enjoy sharing dinner? Why?

Michael Connelly and the late Barara Seranella because I have had dinner with them and enjoyed it immensely. Just about any mystery writer. I feed off of their experience.

5. If I were stranded on a deserted island (or suffering a four hour layover at the airport), why would your book(s) be great company?

I think it would be because they are a fast read and I try to keep the chapters fairly short.

6. Share the Hooten process of writing in regards to: idea and character development, story outline, research (do you Google, visit places/people or make it up on the spot?), writing schedule, editing, and number of rewrites.

I usually get my ideas out of the blue. I got the idea for “Don’t Talk to Strangers” while driving to Oregon. The sequel, “Dead End”, came out of the rewrite process. I got the idea for “Friends and Others” from my grand daughter’s imaginary friend. The characters seem to develop on their own as I’m writing. I don’t do an outlne, (probably should), I do my research online and at the library and a lot of it comes from personal experience (twenty five years of law-enforcement). My schedule is erratic, not by choice. I like to have my wife edit. She is very critical. I lose count of rewrites. At least ten per book, and that’s before the edit process.

7. “I think I have a good idea for a story, but I don’t know where or how to begin. Your process may not work for me. Any advice?”

My advice would be to just start writing. Ideas have a tendency to develop on their own. I think that process works for about anyone. Once you get started, you can arrange your methods. I do “NaNoWriMo”, the National Novel Writing Month contest that occurs every November. It’s a contest against yourself to try and write 50,000 words in the month of November. The focus is on quantity, rather than quality. I think it is a great motivator. I’ve finished the last two years, but I’m way behind this year.

8. I saw an amusing T-shirt the other day which read ‘Every great idea I have gets me in trouble.” What is your philosophy of life?

I try to go with the flow. Avoid confrontation. Keep smiling.

9. Please tell me you’re not going to stop writing? What’s next for you?

As I mentioned earlier, I’m doing NaNoWriMo. I’ve started on a new idea for this year. I also have several good starts from previous years.

10. Where can people find more information on you and your projects?

I have a website. Two, in fact. One is the “Mystery Writers Resource”, where I give tips and links on writing for mysteries. The second is my security site. I’m still available to do investigations and security consulting. The first is http://www.facebook.com/l/de067FldUCniKDbu80qwG4yBOrQ; www.jerryhooten.com, and the security site is, http://www.facebook.com/l/de067Bi-B8s8mvpT2VANJRRS5zQ; www.tech-conrite.com. I have a newsletter that is in limbo right now. Back issues are available on my mystery writer’s site. I plan on starting it up again soon.