QUESTIONS FROM READERS

Gregg Olsen answers readers' questions about the transition between writing true crime and fiction, the inspiration behind his characters and the protagonists of his future works.

Eileen from Hudson, NH: How long did it take you to write the book?
 
Gregg Olsen: Hi Eileen, the entire process is about a year in duration. The actual writing goes surprisingly fast --- maybe six months. But there is a lot of polishing, editorial feedback, and re-thinking to make sure the characters and the story are just right. Just when you think you're done, you’re begging your editor for another week!
 
Linda from Lititz, PA: Where do you get the ideas for your characters? Are they based on actual cases or people you know?
 
Gregg Olsen: That’s a great question, Linda. So far, the plots have been inspired by real life events, to some extent --- though by the time I’m done shaping the story, the inspiration is really just the starting point. 
 
As far as the characters go, I have to admit that there are traits and quirks of real people I know or have met in each of my characters.
 
Linda from Harrisburg, PA: Is it harder writing fiction than true crime books?
 
Gregg Olsen: They are completely different animals, of course. The fiction is fast, exhilarating and fun to do. The true crime material is harder because it must be completely true and it involves real people. It takes hours and hours of research and interviewing and collecting information. The material for my fiction resides mostly in my head --- things that have percolated for some time and are waiting to come out in story form.
 
Shannon from Waterloo, IA: As I was perusing your website, I noticed that you used to write mainly true crime books before transitioning to fiction.  Do you find one more fulfilling than the other?
 
Gregg Olsen: This was a good question and it got me thinking, Shannon, so thank you. I have been honored to tell the stories of some brave, real people who have fought a good fight, endured a tragedy, or caught a killer. There is something eminently rewarding about telling someone’s story and, in some cases, giving them some needed closure. So personally, that’s pretty fulfilling. On the other hand, with fiction, I’m finding that readers respond to my work in a different way. Fiction is often a good starting point to talk about important subjects like child abuse, forensics and the motivation of a killer.
 
Fran from Hampton, GA: Does your research as a true crime author heavily influence your work as a suspense author?
 
Gregg Olsen: I think that my work in true crime gives me a leg up on the process. I understand cops, killers and victims, because I have spent my life writing about them. I’m hoping that readers will agree that my books carry a little more weight because the content is authentic. But I hope that they are crackling reads, too!
 
Kevin from Westwood, MA: How did you feel about transitioning from a true crime author to a fiction writer? Do you feel that your true crime background hinders you, i.e. do you feel limited by reality and plausibility? Or do you feel that truth can be stranger than fiction?
 
Gregg Olsen: Hi Kevin, I’ve sort of answered that in response to Fran’s question. But let me add this: I think that truth is stranger than fiction. If a novelist wrote about a case like the captive children in Austria, some people would say that it was over the top, silly. They’d say that it stretched the boundaries of plausibility. How come the wife didn’t know? How come he got away with it for that many years? Why didn’t the kids escape? We’ve never seen a story like that, therefore no one would believe it if it were an invention. I think a really great crime novel should be grounded in reality somewhat. It really isn’t scary to me if the events described are too far-fetched.
 
Lyndon from Wooster, OH: Is Detective Emily Kenyon possibly a character who will appear in even more books than just A COLD DARK PLACE and HEART OF ICE? Do we have a new protagonist to look forward to?
 
Gregg Olsen: With fiction, of course, I’m making this up as I go along. I’m a little ambivalent right now about whether or not I’ll bring Emily back for a third book. I know for sure that she won’t be the protagonist of the book I’m writing now. I’ve heard from readers of A WICKED SNOW who would like FBI agent Jeff Bauer to take on a new case. I’m open to it. 
 
Thanks for asking, Lyndon.
 
Sue from Madison, WI: How do you find the time to write? Where do you enjoy writing --- at home or somewhere else? How old were you when you began writing?
 
Gregg Olsen: Hi Sue, I’m a bit of a night owl, so I do most of my writing in the wee hours. Because many writers are procrastinators to the nth degree, there is never enough time to get it all done. Deadline pressure is a huge motivator! About my start... I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I wrote short stories in elementary school, was the editor of my high school paper and graduated from college with a journalism degree. I think most authors --- published or not --- simply know they are meant to write. The only trick is in finding an audience.

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