Interview with Joseph D'Agnese
Published 2014-11-07.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
I'm not solidly indie. I've published more than a dozen books with traditional publishers, and have learned a lot about that business model. One thing that saddens me is that, under that model, books are not forever. They go in and out of print all the time, which is no way to build a fan base. I enjoy the freedom of hiring freelancers to work on my products, creating the files, uploading them, and knowing that these books will be available for all time.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
We all daydream. Writers conceive characters, plots, settings and scenarios that would get them ostracized or arrested if they tried to enact them in the real world. But putting your imagination down in words is a safe outlet for expressing those feelings. And it's the most satisfying art I've ever known.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
Sure, it was about an anthropomorphic groundhog who seeks and finds a buried treasure. I still have the handwritten story, which I lovingly crafted in second grade. It's in a file cabinet in my basement, and no, you will never be allowed to read it.
Who are your favorite authors?
It's a tough, almost painful question to answer. It starts in childhood with writers such as EB White and E.L. Konigsburg, proceeds to early adolescence when I discovered the works of E.L. Doctorow, Ellery Queen, and Rex Stout, and early adulthood when I embraced Elmore Leonard, James Ellroy, and James Lee Burke. In between, a lot of authors from different genres---horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and works of literary fiction.
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
Who says I do?
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
I'm amazed how much media I consume in my free time, especially books, TV, and movies. Everything ends up contributing to my work---not always in a good way. Sometimes I think it's smart to avoid books in the genre of the book you're writing right now so you don't start aping what you're reading.
How do you discover the ebooks you read?
Good question. I have to say that I'm not really accustomed to browsing at online retailers, though I understand that a lot of people do just that. I get most of my book recommendations from blogs I follow, which are typically run by other authors. At the same time, I have a number of physical books in my home that are waiting to be read, so I really shouldn't be buying any more books. But I always do.
What is your writing process?
Unless I really know where I'm going, the first draft is closer to automatic or stream-of-consciousness writing than anything else. Write crap, edit later. That's me. What fascinates me is that the second draft, where I wade through the crap and try to pull together the threads is brutally efficient and quick. I often wonder why I don't just start there. But I forget that by then, I have learned the story I want to tell.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
No way. But I have memories of early books that were read to me in elementary school that will stay with me forever. A teacher read us "Charlotte's Web" and we all loved it. But since she only read it a chapter at a time, the book was taking forever to finish. Finally, in a fit of impatience, I borrowed the book from the class library and finished it at home in one night. My parents later had to vouch that I did indeed finish it all. I don't know why they'd doubt a little kid.
How do you approach cover design?
I work with one or two really fine designers. Some like to read the book, then go with their ideas. Others want a synopsis. Either way, I find that my editorial eye must be the final arbiter of legibility, clarity and purpose. A designer very often can conceive and execute a beautiful image that is completely off-genre or non-commercial.
What are you working on next?
The simple answer is, I'm not telling. It's just not a good practice until the thing is ready.
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Latest books by This Author
Harm and Hammer
by Joseph D'Agnese
In this short crime story, a young woman in witness protection adopts a strange new hobby as a way to deal with her guilt and boredom, with tragic results. This story first appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine and is also available in the larger collection, Daggyland #1, by the same author.
Nighthawks
by Joseph D'Agnese
This short crime story purports to tell the "true" story behind Edward Hopper's famous 1941 painting, "Nighthawks." Four people alone in a diner at night. What's going on in that famous scene? You're about to find out. This story first appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, and is also available in the larger collection, Daggyland #1, by the same author.
The Box Top Man
by Joseph D'Agnese
Three short stories—of infidelity, murder, and betrayal—by a recent winner of the Derringer Award for short mystery fiction. D’Agnese gives us three tales that read like Cheever gone from bad to worse, where disillusioned characters dwell in the realm of metro-suburban surreal. (Please note: All three stories are included in a larger collection entitled Daggyland #2.)
Back to the Boke
by Joseph D'Agnese
A local hoodlum who turned himself around grapples with the loss of his "straight" job in the light of the tragic events of 9/11. This powerful short story first appeared in the online noir magazine, Beat to a Pulp. This ebook edition features the bonus novelette, "Last Dance in Hoboken." One quirky American city, two hard-hitting stories by a recent Derringer Award Winner.
Stand Up Johnny
by Joseph D'Agnese
In this country noir short story by a recent Derringer Award Winner, a troubled young man returns home to find deceit, heartache, and murder in the arms of an old flame. The story first appeared in Plots With Guns, and is also available in the larger collection, Daggyland #1, by the same author.
Button Man
by Joseph D'Agnese
An idealistic young man returns home after the Korean War, and clashes with the corruption he finds in his father's business in New York's Garment District. Written by a recent Derringer Award Winner, this Runyonesque short story first appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, and also appears in the larger collection, Daggyland #1, by the same author.
The Sweatergeist
by Joseph D'Agnese
Meet Archie Bleecker, the fingerless detective. He earns his keep by solving New York’s most irrelevant cases. When a rich man hires him to investigate the case of a sweater that won’t stay put, Bleecker’s got more than mystery on his hands. Part ghost story, part private eye yarn, this short story first appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine.
Bloody Signorina
by Joseph D'Agnese
In this short detective story, a privileged yet unworldly young woman embraces a deadly habit as a means to deal with her anger and grief while living in one of the world’s most beautiful cities—Rome. This story is a Derringer Award finalist. It first appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, and appears in the larger collection, Daggyland #1, by the same author.
Sunshine Lady
by Joseph D'Agnese
Determined to exact revenge on an unfaithful husband, a beautiful witch has a dying wish: to be buried in a glass-topped tomb so the sun can always look upon her corpse. Inspired by a true story.
Glow
by Joseph D'Agnese
Two brothers stumble upon a website so entrancing that it marks them for death.
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