Episode 16 --- John Dufresne
John Dufresne just published his sixth novel this spring. I Don't Like Where This Is Going is the second book in his crime fiction series about Wylie "Coyote" Melville, a therapist turned investigator. He's also published two short story collections and two books about writing. His first two novels were both New York Times Notable Books of the Year. He's also written a full-length play and two screenplays. And, he was a 2012-13 Guggenheim Fellow.
In John's latest novel, Wylie and his friend, Bay Lettique, are on the run in Las Vegas after getting into some trouble in Florida. They see a woman fall to her death at the Luxor Hotel, and the adventure begins. Wylie seeks to find out if she committed suicide or if she was murdered. Along the way his life is threatened, he meets two child beauty pageant contestants and stumbles upon a Kafka convention. A lot of the scenarios here are pretty outrageous, but somehow John makes them work.
We met up with him at his office at Florida International University where he teaches creative writing. We talked about what led him to start writing crime, why he gives minor characters so much attention and how he takes reviews in stride.
Interview Highlights:
John reveals...
- why his latest novel examines tough issues like human trafficking
- what initially attracted him to writing about Vegas
- the book he used to read every year
- the writer who means more to him than anyone else
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We have a free, signed copy of I Don't Like Where This is Going to give away. It will go to the first listener to tell us the book John says slayed him in the spirit when he read it in college. You can contact us by leaving a message below or by reaching out to us on Facebook or Twitter (@ReadMorePodcast).
Contest Rules:
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