In the Café today we have author Rick Mofina, who has a new book out in September of 2007 published by Pinnacle. So order yourself a caramel latte and enjoy.

CAFÉ:

What is the name of your new book, and what is it about?

RICK:

A PERFECT GRAVE. It’s a thriller. Seattle rookie reporter Jason Wade pursues the murder of a beloved Seattle nun.

CAFÉ:

We don’t get a lot of thriller authors here at the Café. It’s time we had a little edge of your seat excitement. How long have you been writing?

RICK:

Since grade school.

CAFÉ:

When did your first novel come out?

RICK:

In 2000. It was called IF ANGELS FALL. A San Francisco homicide detective is haunted by the unsolved murder of a toddler, and a superb crime reporter whose life is coming apart, investigate a series of child abductions that have anguished the city.

CAFÉ:

Definitely sounds edge of your seat. Have you always written thrillers?

RICK:

Yes, A PERFECT GRAVE is my 8th crime fiction thriller.

CAFÉ:

What else have you written?

RICK:

A number of short stories. One of them, "Lightning Rider," about an armored car heist in Las Vegas, appears in Murder in Vegas, a collection edited by Michael Connelly. The story won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Short Story, given by the Crime Writers of Canada.

CAFÉ:

Awesome! Congratulations on the award. What brought you to choose the setting and characters in your latest book?

RICK:

Seattle is a city I have visited and love. It is a large, beautiful metro area that fits my character, Jason Wade, well. Jason's a loner, a blue collar kid from a troubled home on the wrong side of the tracks, who constantly has to prove himself in the rough an tumble world of covering crime in a big city.

CAFÉ:

I have been to Seattle — it is a really beautiful city. What is the main reason that you write?

RICK:

I am a writer. It's what I do. I feel something's missing if I don't write.

CAFÉ:

I definitely understand that feeling. Do you write to entertain or is there something more you want the readers to take away from your work?

RICK:

I want the readers to be first entertained, then hopefully moved, by some scene or character revelation. Above all, I write to keep them turning the pages.

CAFÉ:

From the sound of your books I’d guess you’ve succeed in that. Do you have a schedule for your writing or just write whenever you can?

RICK:

Early mornings and weekends, all made possible by a very understanding family.

CAFÉ:

LOL I just can’t get away from all of you morning people. Maybe I’ll have to give in and try writing early in the morning instead of at midnight. It definitely helps to have an understanding family. Do you outline?

RICK:

I outline, my publisher requires it. I keep a running chapter list with lines connecting characters and scenes to remind me who is doing what and when.

CAFÉ:

If you had your ideal, what time of day would you prefer to write?

RICK:

All night long, if I could live with out sleep. I think my output would increase significantly. Aside from that, I'm best in the mornings.

CAFÉ:

Day job?

RICK:

Yes. I used to be a crime reporter. Now, I am a communications advisor.

CAFÉ:

Bet you got a lot of story ideas from that job. Did you find it difficult to get published in the beginning?

RICK:

Well, that's hard to answer. I wrote a book, then searched for an agent. It took a couple of months to find an agent, then it took about a year for my agent to sell my book to a New York publisher. I know it is extremely difficult but not impossible to get published. My advice is to write a good book then search for an agent. Do your homework, go to conferences, read articles by agents on the do's and don’ts and don't give up the search. All you need is one agent to find one publisher.

CAFÉ:

Do you have a great rejection/critique or acceptance story you'd like to share?

RICK:

In my teens I hitchhiked alone from the Toronto area to California. I was 18 when I wrote a novel about the experience and sent it around to publishing houses. It came back with a note from one, saying it wasn't bad as a "Jack Kerouac" thing. And I scratched my head, thinking, "Who's Jack Kerouac?" So I began reading everything he wrote.

CAFÉ:

Now that’s a great story. What kind of promotion do you find most affective?

RICK:

Word of mouth. Meeting book store staff, talking to readers, going to book conferences. Participating in online interviews. All of them are important.

CAFÉ:

Most interesting book signing story — in a bookstore or other venue?

RICK:

I had a woman approach me to announce that she once quilted a book. It was about space travel. I think you get the picture. My favorite reader story came from a retired school teacher who picked up one of my books at a yard sale for a quarter. She loved it so much she sent me a personal check for the full amount.

CAFÉ:

Wow, we all wish we could have a story like that last one. Future writing goals?

RICK:

My next book is a standalone thriller called SIX SECONDS, set for release in early 2009, from MIRA. About six months later, MIRA will release a second book which will launch a new series. My goals are to keep writing books

CAFÉ:

Heroes?

RICK:

My family.

CAFÉ:

Person you would most like to meet dead or alive?

RICK:

Joseph Conrad. Harry Houdini. Bruce Springsteen.

CAFÉ:

What do you read?

RICK:

Everything.

CAFÉ:

What are your hobbies?

RICK:

1950s Sci-fi movies.

CAFÉ:

Oh my, I need to get you together with my husband. He has a huge collection of those. Favorite TV or movies?

RICK:

The Exorcist, Fail Safe, Last Comic Standing and Homicide.

CAFÉ:

Pets?

RICK:

Just peeves. Like, before you get ahead of me in line at a fast food joint, decide what you want before reading every item out loud and asking the staff for suggestions. You got a hungry man standing behind you.

CAFÉ:

I’ll have to remember that should I ever find myself in front of you in a fast food line. You have already mentioned that you have a family.

RICK:

I am married. We have a son and a daughter.

CAFÉ:

What part of the country/world do you live in?

RICK:

I live in Canada, so the Florida Keys would be nice.

CAFÉ:

You should try out here in California — gets pretty warm here too. Any advice for aspiring or beginning writers?

RICK:

The only person standing in your way to getting reaching your goal is you. Be disciplined and write every day. Don't talk about doing it, do it. If the next word you think after reading this is "but" as in, "but I don't have the time, or I have this or that going on" fine. Guess you don't have what it takes. Don't make excuses. Create sentences. Read who you like and study them. All the while ask yourself if you know the difference between "being" a writer and "wanting to be" a writer? It's the difference between dreaming and doing.

CAFÉ:

Excellent advice. Anything you would like to add?

RICK:

Thank you so much. I invite your readers to drop by my site and sign up and subscribe to my newsletter for the scoop on my upcoming work.

CAFÉ:

Website?

RICK:

www.rickmofina.com

CAFÉ:

Where can people purchase your books?

RICK:

Just about most places, online and in stores, wherever books are sold. If my books aren't available, they can be ordered.

CAFÉ:

One last question that is becoming a signature of the Café — I have to ask you if you are a coffee drinker and if you have a favorite you’d like to recommend to our readers?

RICK:

I am a coffee drinker. I brew instant each morning to get me going. I like it sweet and creamy. I don't have a favorite brand or cafe. As Dennis Leary said, I just want coffee flavored coffee. Although, Jamaican Blue Mountain roast has a very good kick for me. Had some while in Jamaica on a news reporter assignment. Chasing the secretive past of an ex-Jamaican cop who traveled to Canada, got involved in crime and murdered a Canadian cop, but I digress.

CAFÉ:

Maybe we’ll have to have you finish up that story next time — sounds interesting. And I’ll have to find that Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee, always up for trying a new one. Thanks so much for joining us here at the Café — hope your new book does well.

©2007 Lorie Ham. All rights reserved.