Van Rooy, a Winnipeg crime novelist, won the 2006 Eileen McTavish Sykes Award for Best First Book and has been nominated for the John Hirsch Award for Most Promising Manitoba Writer.
CG: First could you tell our readers a little about yourself?
MVR: Sure. I was born in Kamloops, BC, but I?ve lived in Winnipeg most of my life and spent most of my early summers in the Lake of the Woods. I recently (on Sunday) graduated from the U of W with a degree in English and have been writing professionally for about 10 years; stories, poetry, articles and freelance research. An Ordinary Decent Criminal was my first published novel.
I am married to a beautiful woman named Laura and, between the two of us we have three gorgeous children, two fairly handsome dogs, one sexy gecko and a tyrannical kitten. I have been a bartender, restaurant manager, bouncer, gambler, federal prisoner and fishing guide over the years.
CG: What drove you to write a crime novel?
MVR: Canada has a wonderful history of crime and criminals which is poorly represented in our national literature; I mean Canada has been the home to Paddy Mitchell, Stephen Reid and Lionel Wright (the world famous Stopwatch Gang), Ken Leishman (the Flying Bandit) and Bill Miner (the Grey Fox and originator of the term ?Stick ?em up!?) Yet the Canadian criminal past is often ignored, we have lots of fictional detectives (Karen Dudley?s Robyn Devara and Louise Penny?s Armand Gamache amongst others) yet few fictional criminals.
So, basically, I decided to write a novel focusing on the criminal, letting him speak and represent himself.
CG: What do think is the most important distinction between mysteries and crime novels?
MVR: The key difference between mysteries and crime novels, in my mind, lies in the absence of the mystery element itself. In Agatha Christie?s Murder on the Orient Express you do not know who committed the crime but in Robert Stark?s The Hunter, you do. That key element? the mystery? is a very difficult thing to create, and there are few stories that can maintain it in a believable fashion. When I come up with a real solid central mystery, I intend to write a mystery? we?ll see what happens.
CG: I understand there is a follow-up to An Ordinary Decent Criminal in the works? is there a firm release date?
MVR: Not really. I wish I could have had it out last September, but Turnstone Press (my publisher), already had a full line-up. It was very disappointing, because I was tremendously excited about doing the sequel and had the rough manuscript written in three months. I had hopes of getting it published this September, but that?s not going to happen either? unfortunately. But soon, I promise!
CG: Can you drop some hints about writing crime fiction?
MVR: That?s easy. Foremost make it real. Some of the strongest responses I?ve had about my writing involves the reality of what I write; everything the main character Monty does can be done. Most of my readers like that, and I think it brings an air of credibility to the character. And the research is a great way to start the writing process.
A second hint would involve remembering the story itself. Too many books are written that lose track of the story and get involved in protagonists who feel things instead of doing things. I really feel that the story (plus character but story first) has to drive the novel, the rest is secondary.
CG: I felt Winnipeg itself was a great character in the novel. Was it vital to you that it be set there, or could you have told Monty's story anywhere?
MVR: As a matter of fact, after the success of the first book, I was approached by an American publisher who wanted to move Monty (and any future books) to an American setting. But frankly, I'm against the idea. There's something about these characters that are quintessentially Canadian? and prairie Canadian to boot.
Originally I had set the story in a mid-sized, imagined town on the border between the United States and Canada, but I had some good feedback from my publisher encouraging me to move him to Winnipeg, a city I know and love. Now I can?t imagine Monty and Claire being anywhere but here.
CG: Your protagonist is a career criminal (albeit one trying to live on the straight and narrow); was it important that the antagonists not be the old gang bent on getting Monty's commitment on one last job, but the Police who won't let his past go?
MVR: Actually, in earlier drafts of the book, there was a police officer who was treated as a 'good guy' and was supportive of Monty, but he was lost in the final edit. I never wanted an 'Us and Them' kind of arrangement within the story; it?s been done too often. Monty's character is a combination of good and bad traits and I wanted to have a police officer who would reflect that. I don't disagree with the changes - they make for a much faster read - but there were a few things I was sorry to see go.
Back to the original question, I wanted to have everyone against Monty; police, bad guys, everyone. I wanted the reader to sympathize with what he was experiencing, with what he had to lose. The police also represent Monty?s past, to them he will always be a bad guy and I wanted to show that Monty developed in the story. My log line for understanding Monty is that he?s a bad guy trying to be good, he?s just not very good at it; he doesn?t know how to be.
CG: You mentioned at a recent panel during Manitoba Book Week that you are interested in trying other genres, is there any one that is particularly nagging you to be told?
MVR: Well, I'm working on one right now that's completely different from my last two projects. It?s a surrealistic novel about the Canadian penal system; I?ll be honest, it?s an odd fish, but I think it'll be good once it?s done? if I can find a publisher for it. I?ve gotten some wonderful feedback from some readers and some great support from the Manitoba Arts Council and hope to have the next edit done in a few weeks.
I?m also putting the finishing touches on a children?s book titled Hamsters Under the Fridge which was inspired by my children and is just a lot of fun!
Other then those projects I have a long list of projects (if I ever get time!): I have a screenplay I?m working on for a documentary titled A Small Talent for War about Canada?s military history, I?ve got reams of notes on a fantasy adventure novel titled On the Verge of the Spirit Sea and I?m trying to work on a heist novel aimed very specifically at the American market starring a very bad guy named Harry who is brutal and humorless (frankly, Harry scares me.)
Mostly I just need time to write, something I never have enough of... Ah well, it?s better than writers block!
| Categories: Interview |
Winner of the 2006 Eileen McTavish Sykes Award for Best First Book by a Manitoba Writer.Winnipeg's Van Rooy has written a hard-boiled, fast-paced suspense story reminiscent of Richard Pri...
