An interview with Garry:

1. What do you love about being a writer?
   It's magic when the writing takes over, the world of fiction becomes real and time becomes relative.
   
   
2. What is your biggest challenge as a writer?
   Finding time to write and never being totally finished with a novel. It always seems that there's one more touch required to make the piece just right. Yes, there's a nasty bit of perfectionism there!
   
   
3. If you were not a writer, what other profession would you want to pursue?
   Photographer of hummingbirds.
   
   
4. In your opinion, what is the most influential crime novel of the last 100 years?
   Gorky Park by Martin Cruz-Smith because Arkady Renko is such a fascinating character who absolutely will not quit.
   
   
5. Which fictional hero do you admire or despise the most?
   Barbara Havers in Elizabeth George's series is a magnificent hero. Havers is crusty, honest, working class and extremely intelligent. Also, she's willing to risk her career to save a child. Did I say she's almost always right but no one will listen to her?
   
   
6. After writing, how do you spend the rest of your time?
   Family, teaching, walking the dog, cleaning house, photography, a cold beer and whatever spur of the moment task my daughter gives me.
   
   
7. What city or location has the most impact on your writing?
   Calgary. When you live in a place for so long, it gets into your veins with the lives, experiences and memories flowing through it.
   
   
8. Do your books have a message?
   Yes. Most often the focus is the basic human need for family; a place to belong in a group where you are accepted as you are.
   
   
9. What are you currently reading?
   Jonathon Strange and Mr. Norrel. Just finished Clem Martini's The Judgment: Feather & Bone (a great read by the way).
   
   
10. If you could meet any person (living or dead), who would that be?
    My grandchildren who haven't been born yet. Can't wait to meet them.
    
    
11. What is your greatest vice?
    Distrust
    
    
12. What is your greatest extravagance?
    Cars. A new one every year would be nice.
    
    
13. What is your idea of misery?
    A lecture where I'm expected to sit still and listen for two hours to a self-help guru in a room full of people who actually believe in that crap.
    
    
14. What is your idea of happiness?
    Unexpected beauty, like a shared laugh with my children, a kind word from a student, meeting an old friend, beautiful music, having the car break down in the desert and the experience turns into the highlight of the trip.