Interview with Richard Doetsch (2012); english
Richard Doetsch is the author of the great series about Michael St. Pierre and „The 13th Hour“. His novels mix lovable heroes with adventure and fast-paced action. (Photo: Copyright Bastei Lübbe) Thank you for taking the time for this interview. Michael St. Pierre’s adventures are a mixture of „The Saint“ and „Indiana Jones“. What was your inspiration and why did you pick a thief? When I sat down a few years ago to write my first book I wanted to create a character that was distinct. So many characters in popular fiction were based on policemen, military personnel, detectives, I wanted to have something that would be different, that was fresh and new. I love the anti-hero, the Butch Cassidy – Robin Hood type, those likeable characters who, though breaking the laws of the land still do the right thing. To me the white knight, the good sheriff, or the all around do-gooder can become boring, can be predictable. I think as a thriller writer it is my responsibility to entertain, to keep the reader guessing and involved and turning the pages as fast as he can. To get there I needed someone who would challenge the status quo, who’d do anything including breaking the laws of man, the heart, and God to achieve his goal. I needed to create someone who would be fun to write not just in a book but a series and so I settled on a thief. Michael St. Pierre is very much myself, they say write what you know so that is what I did. His thoughts, emotions, and view points are a reflection of me. His skills sets: skydiving, scuba diving, love of extreme sports is directly from my life; his caring for those he loves is very close to home and is what drives him and me in life and my various adventures. If you know Michael St. Pierre you really know me, something that my close friends and family recognize and kid me on constantly. Your heroes – all of them – are refreshingly free of psychological flaws and gruesome marriage problems. How important is it for you to make them lovable? […]
