David Handler: Authors Need Support Systems
David Handler was born and raised in Los Angeles and published two novels about growing up there, Kiddo and Boss, before resorting to a life of crime fiction. His first Stewart Hoag mystery, The Man Who Died Laughing, was nominated for an Anthony Award and his third, The Man Who Would Be F. Scott Fitzgerald, won an Edgar and an American Mystery Award. He has published 15 Hoagy novels and 11 novels featuring the crime fighting duo of Mitch Berger and Desiree Mitry, as well as an assortment of other mysteries, thrillers, novellas and short stories. He has been a finalist for the Dilys, Nero and Derringer Awards.
David has a master’s degree in journalism from the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism and began his career in New York City as a reporter, Broadway critic, syndicated columnist, essayist, humorist, and celebrity ghostwriter. He was also a member of the original writing staff that created the Emmy Award-winning sitcom “Kate and Allie” with Jane Curtin and Susan St. James and spent 20 years writing for television and films along with his crime novels before he decided to devote his time exclusively to books. He presently lives in a 1790s carriage house in Old Lyme, Connecticut. Follow him on X (Twitter) and Facebook.
David Handler
Photo by D.L. Drake
In this post, David discusses the process of writing his new murder mystery novel, The Woman Who Lowered the Boom, the advice he received from one of his literary heroes, and more!
Name: David Handler
Literary agent: Dominick Abel
Book title: The Woman Who Lowered the Boom
Publisher: Mysterious Press
Release date: February 13, 2024
Genre/category: Murder mystery
Previous titles: Kiddo, Boss, The Man Who Died Laughing, The Man Who Lived by Night, The Man Who Would Be F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Woman Who Fell From Grace, The Boy Who Never Grew Up, The Man Who Cancelled Himself, The Girl Who Ran Off With Daddy, The Man Who Loved Women to Death, The Cold Blue Blood, The Hot Pink Farmhouse, The Bright Silver Star, The Burnt Orange Sunrise, The Sweet Golden Parachute, The Sour Cherry Surprise, Click to Play, The Shimmering Blond Sister, The Blood Red Indian Summer, The Snow White Christmas Cookie, The Coal Black Asphalt Tomb, The Lavender Lane Lothario, Runaway Man, Phantom Angel, The Girl With Kaleidoscope Eyes, The Man Who Couldn’t Miss, The Man in the White Linen Suit, The Man Who Wasn’t All There, The Lady in the Silver Cloud, The Girl Who Took What She Wanted
Elevator pitch: Here’s the good news: Stewart Hoag, whom the New York Times Book Review acclaimed as the first major new literary voice of the 1980s, has finally completed his second novel after more than a decade lost in the literary wilderness, and the most prestigious editor in New York believes it’s the best novel an American author has written in five years. Here’s the bad news: His prestigious editor has started receiving death threats in the mail.
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What prompted you to write this book?
This is my 15th Hoagy novel dating back to 1988. It has been my goal all along to take readers inside the mind of a novelist, especially a gifted one who has grappled with writer’s block, panic attacks, cocaine addiction, and divorce, and scraped by year after year as a celebrity ghostwriter yet has never stopped believing that he will find his voice again. In The Woman Who Lowered the Boom, Hoagy has at long last found it.
How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?
Once I knew what I wanted to do, it took me about nine months to write the book and another month to take advantage of my editor’s valuable suggestions. Then it took another seven months to undergo copy editing and proofreading followed by typesetting and production. Cover art has to be created, and so on.
For me, the idea for a book is always fluid. I think I know where it’s going but once the characters become fully fleshed-out, I’m no longer in control of their behavior. They take the story where they want it to go. I’m just along for the ride.
Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?
I began my career as a journalist and like to think of myself as a careful and accurate writer. I read over my submissions over very carefully. But with this book, and every book I’ve ever written, I’m always surprised to discover how many gaffes are still there waiting for the copy editor and proofreader to discover. Not major plot errors but small mistakes that I’ve made or details I’ve missed that would make me look like a total dolt if they made it into print. I definitely need a support system. I think all authors do.
Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?
Every day is a surprise. That’s the fun part of writing a book. I can’t wait to find out what’s going to happen next. It’s what keeps me going.
If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?
Early in my career I had the opportunity to interview Ray Bradbury, one of my boyhood idols, and he gave me the single greatest piece of advice anyone has ever given me. This is your lucky day because I’m going to share it with you. You’d better sit down, because it’s a biggie. Are you ready? Write what you love to read.
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