Charlie Stella is not only one of the top writers we’ve come across (Check out our review of CHEAPSKATES, his latest, and check out what we had to say first time we stumbled over CHARLIE OPERA) but he also happens to be a hell of a nice guy; lending credence to the current theory that crime writers are among the most approachable people in the literary scene.

For those of yous unfamiliar with Mr Stella (Or Knucks, as he signs off on his blog), he’s a New York based writer whose tales of mobsters and lowlifes are among the freshest and most deliriously compulsive being written today. His four novels so far are JIMMY BENCH PRESS, EDDIE’S WORLD, CHARLIE OPERA and CHEAPSKATES. We’ve described him before as being like Elmore Leonard writing the Sopranos while being hit about the head by George Pelecanos. Others have described him as “,the best damn crime writer you've never read.”(Mystery Ink) and even his mum says,” It was good, sonny…But do you have to put all that dirty stuff in there like that?”

So when we asked him to say a few words about his writing, he graciously popped back a few choice words of Stella Wisdom which we are thrilled and delighted to share with you, the reading public...

CHARLIE ON...

INFLUENCES…

Pretty much everything I write has some basis of fact in it (to a greater or lesser degree). With Cheapskates it started with me venting about being put through some extra doses of bullshit by an ex-wife in our divorce. I fictionalized that and lots more from there and came up with a novel. I guess I should publicly thank her though, for the genesis spark of the story and for getting me beyond any guilt I had of leaving her twice for the same woman—Ann Marie. I hope that doesn’t sound too cruel. It really is meant as a thank you.

CHARLIE ON...

EXPERIENCES…

The way my mobsters (in pretty much all of my books) fuck each other over is pretty much my experiences on the street. There are VERY FEW loyal people who exist in the world of crime (organized or otherwise). I was very lucky to have a few close friends who never did backflips to save their own asses. I know way too many who hurt others to help themselves—way too many. Fortunately, I realized that the world I was playing in was much more cannibalistic than fraternal a while before I left it to write (and I was able to pull back before it was too late). Too many people I know weren’t so lucky.

CHARLIE ON...

WRITING METHODOLOGY…

I’m an obsessive compulsive lunatic. I log my hours of work each day (even though I had promised myself to stop doing that). I feel guilty if I’m not doing something constructive every minute of the day (whether it be reading, writing or working out … but I’ve added doing the laundry and dishes to the list for my wife’s sanity). I recently killed 10 months rewriting books that just wouldn’t fly and than a dear friend (Craig McDonald) sent me back one of my ranting emails (you think my Knuckslines are crazy?) and he suggested one of my rants was the start of a new novel. Fifteen days later, I finished the first draft. I’m now about to start draft #3. It’s called Shakedown and it will be my next sale. Basically, I write the dialogue end of everything up front (which makes it fly much faster than otherwise). I discuss it with my wife, we fight like cats and dogs, my editor agrees with her, I bow my head, and we move on. I can’t tell you how invaluable my wife is to everything I do (why I’m so grateful to the ex mentioned above). She’s just been there all along and everything good that has happened for me started the day I admitted to myself that I couldn’t live without her. The other person who has been crucial to the fortunate reviews we’ve received is my editor, Peter Skutches, a truly beautiful man who my wife and I love with all our hearts.