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Successful First-Time Author Schaffer
Talks About Writing a Book That Will Sell
An Exclusive Authorlink Interview
With Dylan Schaffer, author of
Misdemeanor Man (Bloomsbury June 5, 2004) July 2004
Misdemeanor Man Buy This Book
Via Amazon.com Dylan Schaffer's first published novel is a quirky, amusing, and ultimately heartrending thriller about Gordon (Gordy) Seegerman, whose day job is as a reluctant public defender. Seegerman takes on only petty cases so that he will have more time to devote to his serious avocation—a moonlight job as the lead singer for a Barry Manilow cover band.
Seegerman's client is accused of being a flasher and periodically goes missing at the worst possible times for Gordy. The book somehow works, ultimately exposing both the realities and the raw absurdities of the legal profession. But to really "get" the subtle twists and insights of this novel, the reader must be willing to stick with the story to its humorously perverted end. We offer kudos to Bloomsbury USA for taking a chance on publishing such an off-beat commercial novel from a first-timer, who likely will return with other funny "reality" thrillers.
The story goes like this: When Seegerman's boss sticks him with a misdemeanor flasher case, he thinks, No problem. He'll plead the case, caution his client to keep his trousers zipped, and rush back to band rehearsal. No such luck. The flasher vanishes, a key witness winds up dead, and Seegerman suddenly lands in the middle of a complicated murder investigation in which the wanker may or may not be the perp. So, now he must act like a real lawyer.
Author Dylan Schaffer, an appellate lawyer, has never been involved in a real-life court trial, but he knows the inside truth about lawyering. Here, he talks about his struggle to "write a book that would sell" while staying true to the realities of the legal profession.
"The book was my response
to the legal thriller genre.
I felt that most of the books
in that category are not honest." —Schaffer AUTHORLINK: How did you transform yourself from lawyer to author?
SCHAFFER: I had been practicing law for a long time, and got the bizarre idea that I might want to write books. So, I wrote a couple of novels and got a good response from agent Lydia Wills at Writers and Artists Literary Agency. The problem was, she told me that the books I had written—serious, literary works— were simply not salable in today's tough marketplace. "Look," she said, "if you want to have a writing career, write a book that I can sell."
I took what she said as a tongue-in-cheek challenge. I thought, I'll sit down and write something that's both commercially entertaining and interesting to me. That was my goal. The book was my response to the legal thriller genre. I felt that most of the books in that category are not honest. The characters aren't human. I wanted to write about the people I actually knew, the people who really operate in that world of criminals and criminal defense professionals. The people lawyers defend are not all innocent. And the typical lawyer handles run-of-the-mill cases most of the time.
There are a lot of good books out there about murder cases. And there must be ten good authors who hit the bestseller list every time they introduce a new title. I felt I couldn't compete in the genre unless I stood out, did things a little differently. Even the really serious cases lawyers take are sometimes very funny and absurd. Inside the profession, we spend a lot of time laughing about what we do, because the other option is spend your life being miserable to feel how horrible it is. The prosecutors you see on TV and read about in books often are self righteous, gung-ho, do-gooders. Many of the books out there are simply dishonest about the law. I try to be very honest about the way the profession works.
AUTHORLINK: How did you come up with the idea of having a wanker as a sort of anti-hero?
SCHAFFER: I've defended a number of exposure cases, though my practice is different than the characters in book—and my fictional character is purely that—fictional. I don't do trials. I have never tried a case in my life. I do appellate work. But I have a sense of what happens in a trial. The flasher case came to me in the middle of the night, and I said, Oh, yes, that's what I'm going to do.
AUTHORLINK: Did you know where story was headed before you finished it?
SCHAFFER: I knew, but only in a broad form. Some of what I wrote was a mystery to me until it came out on the page. I spent a lot of time thinking about the characters, and I knew in general way where the story was going.
AUTHORLINK: Without giving away the ending, you conclude the book on few bizarre notes. Did you plan it that way?
SCHAFFER: The ending is completely different than the first draft of the manuscript. I knew the client was guilty but I didn't know why. Once I figured out why, I re-wrote the book in a backwards direction. You figure something out and then you backfill the story to make it work.
AUTHORLINK: And this is your first novel?
SCHAFFER: This is my first
published novel. The first one—and several more—will never see daylight. I know a lot more about the publishing industry now than when I wrote the earlier works. I have a smart agent. She knows how to build a writer's career. The mystery/thriller world is vibrant. People love to read this kind of stuff. The genre is becoming more serious in terms of literary value. Some of today's best writing is being done in this area. It's a world I hadn't known existed, and now that I do know, I'm excited.
"I view the whole thing as an incredibly fortunate fluke." —Schaffer AUTHORLINK: How did you find Lydia Wills as your agent?
SCHAFFER: She represent my friend and fellow writer, Hiliary Liftin. Her latest book is coming out in paperback. It's called
Candy and Me.
I wrote a book proposal for Lydia, and she took an interest in my writing. She's an old-style agent. She doesn't just reject you. She continues to talk to you about refining your work.
AUTHORLINK: Do you think luck played a role in your ability to break into publishing?
SCHAFFER: I view the whole thing as an incredibly fortunate fluke. I happened to fit into someplace, and I happened to find a great publisher. Even if it should all come crashing down tomorrow, I am thoroughly enjoying it as it happens.
AUTHORLINK: Are you working on another book?
SCHAFFER: I have finished a draft of the second book with the same characters. Paramount has optioned the rights to make a TV series based on my characters.
"So many things have
happened along way
to boost the success of my book."
—Schaffer AUTHORLINK: Seegerman reveres Barry Manilow throughout the book, and in fact his adoration of Manilow becomes a sub-theme. That Barry Manilow seems to be resurging in popularity should help your book sales. Had you any clue that Manilow would be a good marketing hook for the book? Had you ever met him?
SCHAFFER: So many things have happened along way to boost the success of my book. When I started writing
Misdemeanor Man, you would rarely see Barry Manilow mentioned in the media. Now, all of a sudden, he's everywhere. He has had an enormous revival. His fans are a loyal group of people in their 30's, 40's, and 50's. His audience is huge. So, yes, I think his revival will help the book, but I never planned it that way. In fact, I have never met Mr. Manilow, but I sent him a copy of the book. My impression is that he is interested in reading it.
AUTHORLINK: You are scheduled to do a big book signing at the same Las Vegas hotel where Manilow is to perform. Will you try to meet him while you're there?
SCHAFFER: Probably not. I don't want him to think I've done some marketing ploy. I want the book to be driven from its creativity, not from a marketing strategy. I am truly a fan of Manilow.
AUTHORLINK: Why did you choose Manilow as Seegerman's idol?
SCHAFFER: In a way, Manilow is a sort of underdog among superstars. I don't believe he has received the credit he deserves as a performer. He's this Jewish man from Brooklyn who had to struggle to make it to the top. Seegerman is a guy who is full of problems. Life has dealt him a lot of bad cards and has never quite given him his due. Manilow seems the perfect obsession for Gordy.
AUTHORLINK: Are you a musician?
SCHAFFER: No, but I wanted to write about a band. And, as I said, I am a true fan of Manilow. But I'm considerably less obsessive than my character, Gordy.
"
I get very involved
in the process [of writing].
It becomes an obsession."
—Schaffer AUTHORLINK: What are your writing habits?
SCHAFFER: I begin and then I end when I end, no matter how long it takes. I don't sleep and I don't eat. It's not a very healthy process and I am trying to change my ways. I wrote the original draft of
Misdemeanor Man in 6 weeks. I wrote the draft of the second book in 8 weeks. My very busy wife, herself a physician, is looking at me like, "What's happened to you. Are you nuts?" I get very involved in the process. It becomes an obsession. One thing that helps is that we have two lovely and needy dogs. I am the designated dog walker. So, I am forced to take a break now and then.
AUTHORLINK: Again, what really prompted your decision to write?
SCHAFFER: I just decided I wanted to do it. In my job I write appellate briefs so I am comfortable writing. I wrote a nonfiction book about dogs a few years ago and it got me interested in the publishing world. When I was about to turn 40-years-old I decided if I was ever going to write, it had better be now. I passed up a partnership in my firm, cut way back on my caseload, and began to write.
AUTHORLINK: How has Bloomsbury treated you as an author?
SCHAFFER: My editor, Colin Dickerman, has been great. All of the people at Bloomsbury really care about what they are doing; they care about their authors. I feel extremely lucky to be with them instead of one of the huge houses. If I had taken up an offer from a bigger publisher, it might have been a mistake. I might have been left on my own to make the book sell. Here, their commitment to me is clear. We work as a team. I would never go to a bigger house.
AUTHORLINK: You mean you'd stay no matter what?
SCHAFFER: Absolutely. They really care about me. I feel very loyal. I don't think I'd leave unless somebody offered me a chalet in Italy. I owe it to Bloomsbury to succeed.
AUTHORLINK: Will you go back to your legal job now that the first book has been published?
SCHAFFER: Unfortunately, it's not all that easy to make a living writing books, so the minute I finish the promotional phase of my book, I'll go back to my practice, at least, part time. My wife is in her fourth year of residency, so I'm hoping she'll soon get a good job and I can devote more time to writing. If not, I may be in deep trouble. Our dogs are not very employable.
AUTHORLINK: Where are you headed from here? And how do you plan to promote your book?
SCHAFFER: It's not clear to me where I'll end up. Bloomsbury plans to buy the second book, and I hope they give me a contract for the third one. I am doing a lot of my own promotion, a lot of activities with the fans. I'm doing a number of readings in the Bay Area and in New York, where I'm from. I'm relying on the fans to help spread the word. I'm also getting reviews, and the book is the Booksense pick for July.
"My advice is, believe you can do it, and to keep plugging." —Schaffer AUTHORLINK: What advice can you offer a struggling writer who is trying to break in to publishing?
SCHAFFER: You have just described me! The only difference is that I have sold one book! My advice is, believe you can do it, and to keep plugging. It took me several years and 3 full-length novels before my agent was even willing to try to sell something. If I were talking to these writers personally, I'd say it's a hard way to make living. If my book doesn't sell, I can go back to the day job I love. But I don't think it's a good idea to rely on writing as a livelihood. Anyway, your day job may be where you can get the best stories for your books.
AUTHORLINK: How would you like be perceived in the literary world?
SCHAFFER: I want people to think of me as somebody who makes people laugh. Life doesn't have to be dehumanizing, dissatisfying or unfulfilling. It can be exciting and fun. Humor is the best way to get through life. dylan@dylanschaffer.com 510 547 5860.
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