Joe Hamilton is a detective genre writer from Hamilton Ontario. Yeah, go figure. And it’s not even his pseudonym name. Like, why would someone do that? I’m sure he is tired of the “you’re kidding” comment.
I just finished, and thoroughly enjoyed, his latest novel, “Dust in the Wind”, the tenth book in the detective series featuring detective Gabriel Ross, the founder of the Eye on You Detective agency, located in Biloxi, Mississippi.
His writing style is brisk, the novels punctuated with fascinating colorful characters, in a setting that is distinctive and refreshingly different.
Thank you Joe for sitting down and giving us some insight into your writing world. We’ll start off with some easy ones and go from there.
1 So, the classic first question, what motivated you to start writing?
I had recently retired from a role in Financial Planning, and I knew that I’d have a lot of hours in my calendar to fill up, so I started looking into hobbies -like taking creative writing at a community college. You’re asked to write a short story each week during the courses, which gets workshopped. I learned a lot from the prof and the others in the class. One of my short stories turned out to be my first novel – Right Place, Wrong Time.
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
All my books are set in Biloxi, Mississippi, in the late seventies to mid-eighties. Before my first book, my wife and I went for a vacation down to the Gulf Coast, and I got to know the town. I’ve read a great deal about life in the deep south. I also research different aspects of a crime, like the type of poison used in Fear the Reaper or the murder of a young boy in House of the Rising Son.
3 How long on average does it take you to write a book?
I’m usually good for a couple of books a year. During the pandemic, I wrote a little more because I had a lot of free time.
4 What inspires you?
All ten of my books are named after a classic rock song from that period, like Gimme 3 Steps or Mississippi Queen. I’ve always been inspired by music, and when I’m stuck on an idea, I put on the tunes. I also get inspired by reading books written by others. Daniel’s latest book, Expedition Borneo, was fantastic, and I marveled at the level of detail he went into to make the story come alive.
5 Your books have a fair bit of humor in them. Are you a naturally funny guy?
Not at all. I can never remember jokes. Humor in writing was one of the courses I took in creative writing. For me, humor comes from creating interesting characters and putting them in ridiculous situations.
6 What is the most challenging part of your artistic process?
Getting a good story idea is the most challenging. Once I have a good story to tell, it’s like the book writes itself.
7 What are common traps for aspiring writers?
For new writers, I think there are a few. One is to resist going for perfection by writing and continually rewriting each chapter. Finish the first draft, then edit once you have had a chance to gain a fresh perspective.
8 If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Treat your first novel as if it was a job you are being paid to deliver. That means working out how much time to dedicate to writing and sticking to it each day.
9 How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?
I have lightened up a little on myself re point #6. I know what it takes to finish a novel, so I tend to write when I’m inspired and when I’m not, I read other people’s books or do research.
10 What does literary success look like to you?
Early on, I decided to self-publish rather than go through an agent and the traditional publishing route. Because writing is a hobby, I’ve never been concerned with the need to make royalties. Similarly, I’ve resigned myself that I likely won’t become the next Stephen King. Success is the satisfaction I get when people say they’ve enjoyed what I’ve written.
