Mystery author Douglas J. Wood is back! Today we’re chatting about his new thriller, The Shakespeare Killer.
You can check out his previous interview about Blood on the Bayou.
Bio:
Douglas J. Wood is the author of multiple award-winning books, both fiction and non-fiction. The Shakespeare Killer is his seventh novel and a sequel to Blood on the Bayou. As Senior Counsel at the law firm of Reed Smith LLP, he gained over 45 years of experience practicing entertainment and media law, often imparting knowledge from his career in his books. He received his BA from the University of Rhode Island, his Juris Doctor from the Franklin Pierce Law Center, a Master of Law in Trade Regulation from New York University School of Law, and an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of New Hampshire. Doug currently lives in North Carolina with his wife of 49 years, Carol Ann. They are blessed with three grown children and four adorable grandchildren.
Welcome back to Reviews and Interviews, Douglas. Please tell us about your newest release.
The Shakespeare Killer is a sequel to Blood on the Bayou. Chris DiMeglio, the FBI profiler and key character in the prior novel, is now on the hunt for a serial killer targeting prominent criminal defense attorneys. In a global cat and mouse game, the killer taunts DiMeglio with reference to Shakespeare as the body count continues to rise. Throughout the chase, DiMeglio must face the dilemma confronted by many criminal profilers – to build the profile, the killer must continue to kill. But how many lawyers must die before DiMeglio captures the Shakespeare Killer?
What inspired you to write this book?
Serial killers fascinate mystery readers. While they’re psychopaths, they are often perceived as cunning and intellectually superior to those trying to stop them. And many love to leave clues, often gruesome. After Blood on the Bayou, it seemed natural to me to keep the story of Chris DiMeglio alive as he searched for the next serial killer. Shakespeare’s line from Act IV, Scene II of William Shakespeare’s Henry VI, Part II, “The first thing we do is, let’s kill all the lawyers.” inspired me create the killer in the novel. I studied Shakespeare in college and always loved his plays and the tragedy he often portrayed in his characters and stories. It seemed natural to have the killer misunderstand what Shakespeare meant and rely on it to justify a murderous spree.
Excerpt from The Shakespeare Killer:
DiMeglio smiled and shook his head, responding, “Okay, I’m familiar with that scene. Now I understand your name. You’re quoting from the character, Dick the Butcher. Right?”
“Very good, Agent DiMeglio. You got one right.”
“And that’s what you want to be called?”
“It works for me.”
Wanting to keep the conversation going, he typed, “Dick the Butcher wanted to get rid of the only people who could stop him from committing the crimes he planned. Shakespeare meant that if you kill all the lawyers, chaos will ensue. So only the lawyers kept criminals at bay.”
Dick wrote back, “Exactly. As I said, Dick got it right.”
“So you want chaos?”
“No. I want dead lawyers.”
What’s the next writing project?
Yet another adventure for DiMeglio, this time with a twist that I think will keep readers on the edge of their seats and scare them to…death.
What is your biggest challenge when writing a new book? (or the biggest challenge with this book)
I write what I like to call “plausible fiction.” That means I want my novels, while a product of my imagination, to tell stories that are plausible. I want my readers to not only enjoy the book but to also pause and think how my tales could actually happen. So making sure my writing keeps close to reality and away from too much fantasy is the greatest challenge. Keeping my writing exciting and interesting often requires poetic license. Keeping it all balanced and “plausible” is where the challenge lies.
If your novels require research – please talk about the process. Do you do the research first and then write, while you’re writing, after the novel is complete and you need to fill in the gaps?
My writing method has four major steps. First, I write down my general plot, i.e., a very rough outline of the story and the names and roles of my main characters. This first step may involve twenty or so plot lines or scene descriptions. It contains no dialog or major writing at this stage. In my next step, I take each character and write a short biography of them – where they’re from, what they’ve experienced, what troubles them, etc. By doing so, I give life to them. While most of the bios never appear in the novel, they keep me centered on who a character is so I am consistent in their behavior, etc. Next comes the most time consumer step – the research. I want to make certain that anything I put in the book that may be factual is absolutely correct. In The Shakespeare Killer, that meant extensive research on FBI profiling techniques, prior serial killers and the methods they used, international laws, technology used to surveil, and much more. During the research step, I also interview experts. For this novel, those I interviewed included FBI agents, pathologists, police officers, computer hackers, weapons experts, and officials at a maximum-security prison. I also traveled to many of the places depicted in the book to be certain I described them all accurately. The research is a painstaking process but one I enjoy. When those three steps are done, I begin writing. During this final step, I may do more research but the bulk is done before I begin the first chapter.
What’s your writing space like? Do you have a particular spot to write where the muse is more active? Please tell us about it.
Early in my writing career, it seemed as though I was writing most of my work on planes as I traveled all over the world. Or in hotels in remote locations when I had some down time. Today, I’m lucky enough to have found more time and do most of my writing from my home in North Carolina. I have an office that includes many things I’ve collected after nearly 50 years practicing law and traveling to more than 80 countries. It contains great memories that inspire my imagination. It also helps that my office overlooks a serene pond and wooded area. It’s all very calming and conducive to inner thought and writing.
What authors do you enjoy reading within or outside of your genre?
Within my genre, I love Robert Ludlum, John Grisham, and Tom Clancy. They can all tell a tale with great detail but one that also keeps you guessing. Outside my genre, I particularly enjoy the biographies written by William Manchester. His writing style, no doubt inspired by his many years as a reporter, flows easily while still being rich and descriptive. And, of course, I love Shakespeare!
Anything additional you want to share with the readers today?
I think I’ve covered it!
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