A.M. Adair
Shadow War
DOSSIER: What were you doing when you heard Killer Nashville had announced that SHADOW WAR was a finalist for Best Action Adventure?
ADAIR: I was about to take my dog on a walk when the email from Killer Nashville popped into my inbox. It wasn’t a specific congratulations, just an announcement that the finalists for the Silver Falchion Award had been chosen. I clicked the link to the list of finalists on a whim, assuming I hadn’t been selected, and there it was. I had to read it several times to make sure I wasn’t mistaken. Then I got a congratulations text from Jeff Clark and it finally sank in. I’m still smiling.
DOSSIER: What thing about your protagonist Elle Anderson surprised you most after you wrote it?
ADAIR: I was most surprised by how many people thought Elle was me. To be clear, I am no more Elle Anderson than Lee Child is Jack Reacher. But like Lee and Jack, I wanted Elle to be/say/do what I couldn’t. But those who know me still heard my voice or pictured my mannerisms when they read my books. It’s been said that artists leave pieces of themselves in their work, and apparently (despite my conscious effort to the contrary) I am no exception.
DOSSIER: When and where do you write, and what kind of environment do you prefer? (Music/silence/closet?)
ADAIR: I have an “Inspire” playlist that I use any time I write to get in the right headspace. While I can write from pretty much anywhere, my favorite spot is at a coffee shop. Cliche? Maybe. But I can’t argue with the results. Plus I’m a much better person to be around when I’m fully caffeinated.
DOSSIER: Did you set out to do a series before or after you finished SHADOW WAR?
ADAIR: I actually planned a 3-part series from the start, which was both good and bad. Made things simple for me to have material and continuity, but extra difficult to make it so each book could stand on its own. Of course, that was before I realized that my characters weren’t done with me yet.
DOSSIER: What’s in store for Elle Anderson?
ADAIR: I think this is best answered with the following quote: “The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me?” —Ayn Rand
Website: A.M. Adair | Amazon Author Page
Jeff Circle 