by Emilie Goldstein 5 questions to...Christopher Moore

Award-winning author, Christopher G Moore first came to Bangkok in 1983 to research a novel. Nineteen novels and one collection of short stories later, Moore is still there. He is best known by his cult classics, Land of Smiles Trilogy, his behind-the-smiles study of his adopted country, Thailand, and his highly popular Vincent Calvino Private Eye series.

Moore has attained somewhat of a cult status among his readers in Asia and Europe and has an increasingly strong following in North America.

Why do you think crime fiction is such a popular genre?
In the late 1980s when I settled in Bangkok, no one was writing a series. In fact there were very few novelists taking any interest in Southeast Asia. Sixteen years later, International crime fiction is on the radar screen. Crime fiction is more flexible than other genres and I believe that’s why it’s more popular internationally. It allows authors to draw upon the cultural and historical material unique to their country. Readers of international crime fiction want the feeling that the story and characters are reflective of local culture, beliefs, taboos, and customs.

What type of writer are you?
I thrive as a writer inside a locked room, all the blinds closed, not exterior noise, no phone, Internet, or to be honest human contact. Once inside this womb like environment I can imagine a story. Often I will have background music (no vocals). This creates a benchmark of emotion. The problem with writing a 300 page plus novel is that it is done over many months, and to maintain the texture, tone and atmosphere so that the books is seamless is always a challenge. The process is long, often frustrating, and time-consuming. I can't imagine why so many people want to write books.

Your 11th Calvino novel, Paying Back Jack, hit the shelves recently. What are your upcoming projects?
I have no plans to abandon the Calvino Series. I still draw a great deal of pleasure in researching and writing each of the books. Keanu Reeves will be starring in a movie based on the Calvino novel, The Risk of Infidelity Index. But I have been thinking of starting a second series, and it wouldn't be a private eye series. But it would be set in Asia, though probably not Thailand.

Who are your greatest influences?
I read about half fiction and half non-fiction. For fiction, I'd list Graham Greene, George Orwell, Conrad, Paul Theroux, Raymond Chandler, Peter Cary, Gore Vidal as sufficiently diverse influences that are guaranteed to get me a second glass of wine at a cocktail party. I learnt a great deal about story and structure from Stirling Silliphant.

Do you have any advice for those who want to write fiction?
Don't repeat what's already been done. When you've finished a manuscript, it is likely you've just begun. Writing a book that finds a large international audience takes a huge amount of work and dedication. Also, I'd recommend the writer search for a new community that hasn’t been explored in fiction, move inside that community, learn the language, read the history of the people, and find your voice from those experiences and knowledge to create a work of fiction.

For more information about Christopher G Moore and his latest novel, Paying Back Jack, visit www.cgmoore.com