Interview with Greg Jolley: March 9, 2021

Many thanks to “The Avid Reader” for this chance to discuss “Thieves.”

Interview with Greg Jolley: March 9, 2021

Thieves

Book One: The Obscurité de Floride Trilogy

1. For those interested in exploring the subject or theme of your book, where should they start? The first stop might be non-fiction books about famous thieves and thankfully, there are many. For “Thieves” I focused my research on the clever and creative styles of the best. Knowing Molly and April Danser well, I had a clear understanding of their different motivations, but had no idea of the complexity to many of the finest schemes ever pulled off.

2. How did you become involved with the subject or theme of your book? I love working with those Dansers living on the dark side of the law and their guilt-free embrace of crime and greed. In real life, similar minds have always been a part of society, the brave and determined few who think laws and rules are for the foolish and cowardly. What I wanted “Thieves” to celebrate was their courage and single-minded dance outside the lines of accepted behavior. 

3. What were your goals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel you achieved them? My goal was show readers how cool it is to live beyond the boundaries most of live within. As with other Danser novels, “Thieves” is a fast-paced romp with the kind of people we rarely meet — and that’s a good thing (laughter). As always, I leave it to readers and reviewers to decide for themselves how effectively I pulled this off.

• Anything you would like to say to your readers and fans? Absolutely. Write to me and let me know what you think. What you liked or hated? What worked for you and what didn’t? Hearing from you means the world to me. I always learn something new and I’m grateful for the time taken to question or comment.

• What did you enjoy most about writing this book? The daily writes. I work seven days a week and once the months of research are completed, I get to enter and stay immersed in the story straight through to typing, “The End.” It’s always an adventure, no matter what I’ve planned. With “Thieves” it wasn’t long before Molly and April and the other characters took over the story and it was all I could do to be their lowly typing pool. 

• Can you tell us a little bit about your next books or what you have planned for the future? “Thieves” is Book One of the Obscurité de Floride Trilogy, the other two coming out later this year. We are nearly finished with the final proofing, which allows me to focus on writing “Chas & Izzy,” which is the second title in a new series.
• How long have you been writing? A ridiculously long time (laughter). “Distractions” was published in 1984, which says it all. I consider being a novelist as a blessing, a gift, allowing me a delightful second life with constantly new worlds and lives to explore.

8. Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in (Please insert name of book here)? “Thieves” is Molly and April’s story of crime and the dangers their lifestyles bring on. The sisters are unique to themselves in what motivates them. Their passions often bring them into conflict with one another and are part of their downfall, as they’ve inspired a US Marshal from first desiring their capture to wanting them dead or alive. Preferably dead and in the worst of ways.

• If you could spend the day with one of the characters from “Thieves” who would it be? Please tell us why you chose this particular character, where you would go and what you would do. While I adore Molly, I would spend the day with April. Being a surfer like she is, I’d like to paddle out with her and chat in between waves. There’s this great big hole in her past, a large number years where she disappeared alone. My first question would be, “Hey, April, I know you pretty well after you returned, but what the hell caused you to start acting so bat guano nuts?”