Alan Russell’s versatility is key to success

Not many mystery writers have tackled the murder of an angel, but that’s what San Diego author Alan Russell has done in his latest release, “Guardians of the Night.” For this interview, the award-winning author discussed his new release and his philosophies about writing.

Russell feels strongly that authors who write a book just to deliver a message or argue a cause are making a mistake. He said, “Readers don’t want an author preaching to them. At the same time I’d be lying if I said my books didn’t have issues and messages in them. In ‘Guardians of the Night’ one of the subplots involves unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones. I am uneasy about the notion that we can conduct ‘video-game’ wars.”

“Guardians of the Night” begins with a homeless man witnessing what he believes is an angel being murdered. “That’s where my idea started,” said Russell. “In most of my novels, though, I like to have important plots and subplots. In this book, Detective Michael Gideon and his K-9 partner Sirius are also trying to find the identity of the Reluctant Hero—a man who averted an elementary school shooting and then disappeared. Readers will find that these two plots actually intersect later in the book.”

The author of eleven books, Russell said he tries to never write the same book twice, even when he’s writing a series. He said, ‘Readers are always surprised that I can write a laugh-out loud book like ‘The Hotel Detective,’ and then turn around and write a psychological thriller such as ‘Multiple Wounds.'”

And, speaking of versatility, Russell’s 2013 Christmas Cop novel, ‘St. Nick,’ turned into a runaway favorite this year. See my review, St. Nick—an uplifting tale, to find out why. Russell said, “Despite all my novels being very different, I never try to shortchange my readers. My goal remains the same whether I’m writing a police procedural, a suspense novel, or a whodunit—I want the reader to be satisfied.”

Russell views each book as a personal journey. As part of that journey for “St. Nick,” Russell worked as a mall Santa for an entire Christmas season. In doing research for “Multiple Wounds,” he rode along with the San Diego Police Department’s homicide teams. He said, “I was called out to several homicide scenes where I was allowed to work the scene alongside of the detectives. I’ve met with drag performers after midnight (their preferred time to meet), and done sting operations with private detectives.”

Russell even says he corresponded with a member of a German dueling fraternity for a year as he searched for the right antagonist in ‘Exposure.’ He said, “I know my books have to feel real to me if they’re going to feel real to the readers. And I am a believer in the saying, ‘No tears for the author, no tears for the reader.’ Every book is a personal investment.”

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Alan Russell has won a Lefty award for best comedic mystery, a USA Today Critics’ Choice Award, and the Odin Award for Lifetime Achievement from the San Diego Writers/Editor Guild.  Publishers Weekly calls him, “One of the best writers in the mystery field today.”

Learn more about Alan Russell on his website at www.alanrussell.net or on his Facebook Alan Russell Author Page.