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Interview with John Foxjohn

6 Comments

John Foxjohn Killer Nurse photoI want to welcome fellow Louis L’Amour fan and multi-published author John Foxjohn.  John is a former Army Ranger, police officer and homicide detective.  His latest novel Killer Nurse, published by Berkley releases today.

John welcomes your comments and questions about his expertise in law enforcement or writing.  Writers, he can help you develop realistic interrogations, interviews or crime scenes.

1. What first led to your interest in writing Killer Nurse?

This case first popped up at the end of April in 2008. At first it was reported in the paper and TV as basically an aggravated assault of two DaVita patients. Angelina County residents were shocked when the details came out. Two patients while undergoing dialysis treatments claimed to see a nurse inject two others with bleach.

The reason this was an aggravated assault was because the two patients who turned out to be injected with bleach actually lived through it.

When murder charges were finally filed against Kimberly Clark Saenz I knew that I had to write this book.

2. What was the most difficult part about writing this book?

Without a doubt it was interviewing and talking to the victims and the family members. I’ve found that most people concentrate on the five people Saenz was accused of killing, and they forget that she was accused of basically trying to kill five others—five that survived.

These and the family of the dead was tough to interview.

3. How did your background as a former homicide detective help you in your research for this novel?

It helped me in three important ways. First, because I was once in the brotherhood, I got access to the investigators that others writers probably would not have gotten to talk to. The same is true with the prosecutors.

Second, I interviewed 237 people for information in the book. Because of my background, I knew what to ask, how to ask, and more importantly, when to shut up and let them talk.

Third, because of my background I understood what and why the investigators did what they did, and why they didn’t do things. I was able to give insight into the investigative part.

4. What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned as writer?

Some writers like to write sequels, and I started my writing career off with one—one that did very well. However, I haven’t written a sequel in quite a while because I discovered that I really like creating new characters.

I think it is one of the most challenging aspects of writing, but also the most interesting.

5. The most difficult lesson you’ve learned as a writer.

Not everyone is going to like what I write.

6. You also speak at writing groups. What’s the take-away advice you give writers who hear you speak?

Yes, I speak to a lot of writers group, and one thing I like to emphasize is no one can tell the individual writer how to do something that will guarantee they’ll become published.

There are guidelines but really there is only one rule in writing. If you write something so well that people can’t put it down, you are going to go a long way.

Writers never progress if they try to do exactly what others have done in the past—learn from them, but mold it into their own.

7. What’s the next project coming up for you?

John Foxjohn photoI have a completed fiction manuscript I need to do something with, plus, I need to write the sequel to it. I have also outlined and have the beginning of a novel about a murder abroad a cruise ship.

Of course I will be on the lookout for another true crime.

You can find Killer Nurse here and more about John here.

Filed Under: Author Interviews, Writing

Comments

  1. John Foxjohn says

    August 6, 2013 at 10:27 am

    Sonya, thank you for having me on.

    Reply
  2. Paula White says

    August 6, 2013 at 1:40 pm

    Hi John and Sonia!

    My name is Paula White. I liked your interview. I live right outside of Chicago, ten minutes from Indiana. I am working on my first novel. It is suspense. I write because I have worked as a registered nurse for 12 years. Many of my patients have either been police officers and/or the family members of police officers. I want to see my work related stories in fiction.

    My first novel is about a woman who survives a murder attempt, starts over in Chicago, but someone from her past catches up with her.

    John, do you have any suggestions about how I should go about my research process or anything? Any input you have would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks!

    Sincerely,

    Paula White

    Reply
  3. John Foxjohn says

    August 6, 2013 at 3:21 pm

    Paula, research is good—especially when the writer adds elements of the place where the book takes place. For instance, in my novel Paradox, there is stuff in there about Houston that isn’t known outside of the city.

    When the writer can infuse this kind of research into the story without taking away but enhancing the story it becomes better.

    As far as the other research, just ask people who know, but don’t get so bogged down in research that you forget the two most important parts: the story and the characters.

    Reply
    • John Foxjohn says

      August 6, 2013 at 3:37 pm

      And Paula, thanks for coming on. I appreciate your interest.

      Reply
  4. Maria says

    August 10, 2013 at 10:26 pm

    John, your true crime book sounds fascinating. Years ago, I used to voraciously read true crime novels.

    Reply
  5. John Foxjohn says

    August 13, 2013 at 4:19 pm

    Hey Maria, thanks and hope you are ready for another…. 🙂

    Reply

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