Lawrence Block Speaks

It’s an honor for me to be in conversation with the great crime fiction writer Lawrence Block.

I had to convince Larry to do this interview as he is mostly retired and shies away from the spotlight. As you will see, he is modest, not the kind of man to boast or tout his many accomplishments but I’ll cite just a few. The winner of every possible crime fiction writing award, among them 5 Edgar awards, 4 Shamus awards, the Nero, Anthony, Macavity and the Maltese Falcon. He’s had many bestselling novels, story collections and several major motion pictures have been made from his work.

You will hear a bit about how Larry started out, writing stories for men’s magazines like Manhunt and writing soft core porn novels.

For more information of that period in Lawrence Block’s life pick up a copy of his wonderful memoir “A writer Prepares.”

Soon Larry was writing a novel a month, something I find extraordinary and impossible to imagine. No way I could do that though it sounds like great training. It’s like the reporters turned crime fiction writers like Michael Connelly and Laura Lippman, who learned to write fast and on a deadline for newspaper stories, which undoubtedly helped them in producing books on time—and very good ones.

And try one of his racy novels written under the pseudonym Jill Emerson

In the video we touch on a couple of anthologies Larry edited, but he did many, all first rate. It shows Larry’s ingenuity and generosity to other writers, including them in collections that bore his imprimatur and endorsement.

Nowadays, it’s hard to find Larry on dry land as he and his wife Lynne spends a lot of time on boats cruising around the world. But I try to catch him whenever I can. If you have never read a Lawrence Block book pick one up. You will soon be addicted.

In other news… My novel “Ten Perfect Guests” out Septemer 8, was just on Zibby’s Owens Most Anticipated List.

My Book Tour is about to be announced and as soon as it’s ready I will post the details. In the meantime, for New Yorkers and locals, please save the date Thursday September 10 for my NY launch. I will be in conversation with the one and only Joyce Carol Oates. The launch will at Jim Kempner Fine Arts in Chelsea with books from Bibliothèque NY. As seating is limited it will be a ticketed event, so stay tuned for an announcement and ticket info from Bibliothèque.

Enjoy the video!