Q: Who are some of your favorite authors? How have they influenced your work?

A: I have many because I read all the time. Modern authors I like are Len Deighton, Raymond Chandler, Michael Crichton, John Grisham, Wodehouse, J. K. Rowling, Proust, Erik Larson, Bill Bryson, Stieg Larsson, to name only a few. The ones I think who really had an effect on me, in terms of style, were Len Deighton, Raymond Chandler, Edith Wharton, Booth Tarkington, O. Henry and Jane Austen. There are probably others, but these last six I read over and over. They are old friends.

I would also mention Stephen King. He and I have had an uneasy relationship in that I don’t always like what he writes, but I will always pay attention to how he says it and the plots he uses. His On Writing is invaluable. The Dear Reader concept was key. My wife is my Dear Reader, and there is nothing I enjoy more than watching her read what I have written.

More important than the literary influences for me is the process of editing. I cannot overstress the importance of good editing for a writer’s education.

My dream has always been to enchant the reader. Sometimes that is not always possible. How does one enchant a reader with science or mathematics? I can try with my nonfiction articles, but I don’t think I’m always successful.

At the very least, I believe one should write clearly. As a craftsman that is what I strive for. One can, of course, by writing clearly see that one has clearly written nothing of substance, and that is strangely a benefit. One needs to rethink.

My guitar teacher told me a story of this guitarist working one night with a famous jazz band leader. The leader could have been Miles Davis but who exactly I can’t recall. He gave the guitarist a nod to take a solo and our guy just lit it up with runs, legatos, pull-offs, all at lightning speed. It was a virtuoso performance. After only twenty seconds of this the maestro took the solo back and gave it to someone else. The guitarist was upset. He had played solo barely at all, while this other not-as-accomplished musician was given a solo for at least a couple of minutes, if not longer.

He asked the leader what was the matter with his playing. His answer was, “You didn’t say anything. If I’m going to give you a voice you better say something with it.”

He asked the leader what was the matter with his playing. His answer was, “You didn’t say anything. If I’m going to give you a voice you better say something with it.”

There is much wisdom in that story no matter the instrument you use. Whether it’s the voice, words, paint, or sushi, you must say something with the medium.

As a writer, I have a thought that I keep in mind: if it doesn’t say a thing, you don’t have that swing, clearly put or not.

As a writer, I have a thought that I keep in mind: if it doesn’t say a thing, you don’t have that swing, clearly put or not.

The writer’s job is to do both: have something to say, say it clearly.

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