James R. Benn

How did you become a writer?

I always wanted to be a writer, which to me meant that I would write a book that had a beginning, a middle, and an end. And made sense. But I never took a step to make that happen until my 50th birthday. While having a celebratory dinner, my wife (who is a psychotherapist) decided it was an occasion to talk about my feelings. So she asked, "What do you want to do for the next fifty years?" I realized that it was time to revisit my desire to write before another half century went by. I started writing right away.

Name your writing influences (writers, books, teachers, etc.).

Robert B Parker was my inspiration for writing crime fiction. He was a genius at brevity, conciseness, and characterizations. I am also in awe of The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories, by Christopher Booker. This book is a masterwork of more than thirty years research into why people tell stories. Booker breaks down literature into seven archetypal themes which occur across all types of stories. Using a wealth of examples ranging from ancient myths and folktales to plays and novels of great literature to the popular movies and TV soap operas of today, he demonstrates how these archetypal themes have remained constant over the generations. Not everyone will agree with Booker, but everyone will learn from him—about reading, writing and understanding. This fascinating read provides writers with a new way to look at their own plotting and tap into the hero's journey.

When and where do you write?

After coffee. In my office. Then after a nap, back to the office.

What are you working on now?

I've just started on the 19th Billy Boyle novel, PHANTOM, for release in 2024. This is set on the eve of the Battle of the Bulge.

Have you ever suffered from writers block?

No, never. I do suffer from occasional bouts of laziness, though. Thankfully, true writer's block has not paid me a visit.

What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received?

From the novelist Rachel Basch, who told me "The story has to move down as well as forward." Simple but profound.

What’s your advice to new writers?

Read outside your comfort zone. Read analytically. Break down the structure of books that you wish to emulate. Become part of a writing community, online or in real life. Writers support writers, in general.

James R. Benn is the Dilys, Barry, and Sue Federer Historical Mystery-award nominated author of the popular Billy Boyle WWII mystery series and three stand-alone works. His novel The Blind Goddess was long listed for the 2015 Dublin IMPAC Literary Award. Benn is a graduate of the University of Connecticut and has an MLS degree from Southern Connecticut State University. He worked in the library and information technology fields for over thirty-five years before leaving to write full-time. Benn and his wife Deborah Mandel live on the gulf coast of Florida. The Billy Boyle series, published by Soho Press, has been hailed as “meaty, old-fashioned, and thoroughly enjoyable,” by the Seattle Times. The New York Times called it “spirited wartime storytelling.”