Tuesday, January 19, 2010
An Interview With a Writer: Richard Doetsch
We started out light, talking about the cloudless blue Southern California skies in comparison to the hints of snow that are falling in his part of New York.
Me: So, I read online that the movie rights were actually sold before the book. How did that happen?
RD: I’d written the third book in my Thieves series, Thieves of Darkness and was waiting to hear back from my editor on it when Joel Gotler, who represented me in selling the film rights to Thieves of Heaven, asked for a standalone story. He’d been asking for one for a while and I figured I had about 30-40 days free that I could do it. I thought I could write The 13th Hour that quickly, so I did. I wrote it in 30 days, and Joel sent it out right around Labor Day [2008]. Word got out about the movie, which New Line bought, and then my publisher started asking me, “What’s The 13th Hour?” So I sent it to them and they agreed to publish it.
Me: [This is a story that starts at Chapter 12 and essentially counts down to Chapter 1. Only the main character knows what's happening.] How did you keep the story straight? How did you write it backwards without getting it all confused?
RD: I wrote a one-page outline. I wrote the beginning and the ending of each chapter, just one sentence or so for each, on one page and wrote from there. Most of it unfolded in my mind as it went. It felt like I was playing five different chess games in my head at once. But it helped that I knew where I was going. It was some of the greatest fun I’ve had creating this story because it was such a challenge.
Me: Where did your inspiration for this story come from?
RD: I consider myself a story teller first and a writer second. I try to write a story every day. I have a file of story ideas. On April 26, 2008, I wrote down “Story in reverse.” Then, on June 30, when I sat down and asked myself what I could write in 30 days, I saw that and there were so many possibilities that it just grew from there. I started with Chapter 12 and went backwards.
Me: You started with Chapter 12. Where did the 13th chapter come from?
RD: Well, that was sort of the wrap up of the book where everything gets explained. All the action is over and it was the time to learn what was really going on.
Me: You mentioned on your website and I’ve read in a few other places that your relationship with your wife is really the inspiration for a lot of the relationships in your books. Can you talk about that?
RD: My wife and I have been married 22 years and we’ve got just the best relationship. And, of course, in [The 13th Hour], you’ve got Nick, which represents myself and you’ve got Julia, who is my wife, Virginia. Their relationship echoes all the good things in our life, loving each other unequivocally. I thought a lot about how far I would go to save my wife if I were in that situation. I’m very lucky and I have learned that when you have something great, you hold onto it.
Me: In The 13th Hour, one of the elements that keeps coming up is this plane crash. What was your inspiration for that?
RD: There’s an airport right outside of town here and the flight path passes directly over the field where my son used to play ball. I got to thinking about the idea of playing with time and unintended consequences. When you change one thing, there has to be some consequence to that. And in the book, when Nick saves his wife from one thing, that leads to putting her in danger of something else.
I used to fly a lot. I’ve probably flown close to 400,000 miles and I don’t think anyone takes a flight without ever thinking about the possibility that it might crash. So I thought about that.
With this book, I didn’t really have the opportunity to do any research because it was written so quickly, and so everything was just based on my own thoughts and what was in my mind. I knew where I was going and new things popped in as I went along. I get a high off of writing a particularly good chapter and I wrote this book so fast that I got that high just about every night, which made it easier and more fun to keep going.
Me: How do you keep that momentum?
RD: Well, for this one I had a self-imposed deadline, which made it easier. I really just wanted to get the story down on paper. When I was writing my current book, I spent a lot of time trying not to repeat some of the elements of The 13th Hour. It was more psychological, which also helped keep me going.
Me: You started out in business. How did you end up writing your first novel, The Thieves of Heaven?
RD: Before Thieves of Heaven, the longest thing I ever wrote was probably five pages, back in high school. But after I graduated from college and wasn’t required to read anymore--you know how it is, you read more when you don't have to--I read probably about a book a week. That was writing school for me. Everyone says they want to write a book. I get so tired of hearing what people say they’re going to do. I decided to do it. And after I was done, I gave it to a few friends. My wife read it and said it was good, but she’s, you know, my wife. She suggested I give it to a friend who owns a bookstore. That friend gave it to an agentfriend, who got it to my film agent, Joel. He sold the movie rights to 20thCentury Fox and then my agent took the package to Random House, where they gave me a two-book deal.
I love writing and to have the privilege of doing what I love is such a gift.
You never know where opportunity comes from. That friend who owns that bookstore? I used to coach his kids in baseball. We never know what begets what. Take opportunities when they come.
**I would like to thank Richard Doetsch for this interview. It was so much fun to talk about The 13th Hour and writing in general. I encourage you all to pick up a copy of The 13th Hour. It's a fun read and a great way to pass the day when you're facing Storm Watch 2010!**
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I'm trying very desperately to read this interview but my niece isn't allowing me....I have to go look for puppies right now....but I'll read it all soon.
ReplyDeleteso excited for you!
Great interview Karen!!! I love hearing what authors have to say about their own writing.
ReplyDeleteThis is so very cool! I definitely want to read this book now.
ReplyDeleteHow lucky are you? Fantastic job.
ReplyDeleteGreat job, Karen! And how totally fun to interview a writer.
ReplyDeleteLook at you, interviewing authors and everything! How exciting! Great interview. It only makes me want to read the book more.
ReplyDeleteReally good interview:) I haven't read this book but I want to now!
ReplyDeleteI am so going to pick this book up and read it. It sounds like a great book!
ReplyDeleteGreat interview. The 13th Hour sounds like a good book. I love that he sold the film rights before the book!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe he went from 5 pages to a novel! Loved the interview!
ReplyDeleteGreat interview Karen! It's so interesting to read about the process of such a successful author. I'll have to check out his book!
ReplyDeleteKaren! This is so cool. And you did a fabulous job!
ReplyDeleteHow cool you got to interview an author you enjoy reading, AND he turns out to be a great guy!!! Kudos to you.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by my blog today!!! Did you get a chance to check out the inside screen cleaner, if not you really should, pass it along if you like!
Oh, I forgot, reading this intrigued me, I love to read and this sounds like a good read for this time of year. I'll have to go online to the library, request it, and have my husband pick it up for me. Thanks for recommending this author.
ReplyDeletewell done my friend. well done.
ReplyDeleteHow cool for you! I am really excited to read this book---its on my Goodreads list next, but I have so many to read first!! Am getting through my current one, so I can do "Smilias Sense of Snow"---heh, heh.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview, by the by----I would be speechless...
How were you able to do this interview?
ReplyDeleteAwesome post. I think I'm going to write a novel. :)