Interview with Vincent Zandri, Author of ‘The Guilty’

Vincent Zandri is the No. 1 International Bestselling Amazon author of more than 15 novels including The Innocent, The Remains, The Disappearance of Grace, and the forthcoming The Shroud Key. He is also the author of the popular Dick Moonlight PI series. A freelance photo-journalist, he writes for RT, Globalspec, Living Ready Magazine, and more. He divides his time between New York and Florence, Italy.

Congratulations on the release of your latest book, The Guilty. When did you start writing and what got you into mystery?

I was in writing school and bored with the novels they were suggesting I read. Novels like The Lime Twig and a couple by the school’s own faculty, which was just another way for them to sell books nobody would otherwise buy. I picked up some James Crumley and Robert B. Parker and fell in love with plot and action. I also fell in love with the violence and sex, and the notion of one man up against it all.

Did you have a mentor who encouraged you?

Not a one.

Did you have any struggles or difficulties when you started writing?

I was young and newly married with two toddlers. I had to work a day job and still spend many hours at the writing desk. I sometimes slept as little as four hours per night to make it all work. Now my sons are writers.

What was your inspiration for The Guilty?

I scour the local newspapers for true-crime stories. When one strikes my fancy I use it as the basis for my story and plot, and then turn it into fiction. 

What do you tell your muse when she refuses to collaborate?

My muse is a whore. She is always willing to put out.

Many writers experience a vague anxiety before they sit down to write. Can you relate to this?

Sure. I can’t wait to get started, and I don’t lose the anxiety until the day’s word count is over.

Do you have a writing schedule? Are you disciplined?

I work five days a week, for eight hours a day. On Saturday I work half a day. If writing new words, I shoot for five double-spaced pages per day. Sometimes I have to interrupt the schedule to write an article. Often I’ll be traveling and writing about my adventures.

 How do you celebrate the completion of a novel?

I take three or four days off and then start in on a new one.

How do you define success?

I was having lunch recently in a restaurant and I spotted a woman reading one of my novels, Murder by Moonlight. I couldn’t help but approach her and ask her if she liked it. After a time she recognized me and her face turned red. She said she loved all my books. I signed it for her.

What do you love most about the writer’s life?

I do what I want, when I want. I can sleep until nine, party all night if I want, pack up my bags and take off for the hell of it. I have a great life.

Do you have a website or blog where readers can find out more about and your work?

Please visit WWW.VINCENTZANDRI.COM

Where is your book available?

Everywhere where fine E-Books and paper books are sold.

Anything else you’d like to tell my readers?

Thank you for having me at Blogcritics and thanks for putting up with me. I owe you all a beer.