John Stamp
Overmatch
DOSSIER: You and I both experienced the polygraph examination and psychological assessment process at the Charleston Police Department before becoming cops in SC. What was more stressful for you, getting through that first polygraph or waiting for that first book review to come in?
STAMP: Jeff, thanks for adding me to the list of the great authors you have dossiers on! In answer to your question, I’ve been polygraphed three times, twice by Charleston PD and once by the FBI. I will tell you the polygraph beats the reviews every time. You know as I do that the questions get in your head. Even though every question is hashed out with the polygrapher before the machine turns on there’s still that little voice in your head that keeps the question going.
The polygrapher asks, “Have you ever beaten your wife?”
Easy answer, “No, of course not.”
But then that little voice sounds off, “Are you sure?”
The internal dialogue gets to you while knowing you’re hooked up to a machine recording all of your bio signs. “No!” I answer that little voice, then, “I mean, I don’t think I’ve ever beaten my wife. No! I don’t think so … No, for sure. But wait, does beating her at Monopoly on family game night count?”
The worst was the FBI polygraph. At the end, the polygrapher was like, “You need to learn how to relax.”
My actual answer, “Yes, Sir.”
My internal answer, “Are you f***ing kidding me? You try to relax when you’re strapped into that thing!”
So long answer, I’ve got thick enough skin to deal with the stresses of reviews. I think they’re even amusing at times. But the polygraph breaks me. Then again, that’s what it’s designed for.
DOSSIER: For BLOOD RED IVORY, you draw heavily from personal experiences, and you always have close connections to the locations you use as book settings. When do you think we’ll start seeing places like Bora Bora show up in your books, and what will we all be able to draw from that?
STAMP: If I send Ty to Bora Bora that will mean that my books are selling well enough that I can afford to go do a “research trip” to Bora Bora.
I try to keep the locations to places which I have some working knowledge, but since I still work the 9 to 5 and have little kids at home, my travel opportunities are limited. Hopefully that changes in retirement when I’m travelling the world as a full-time writer.
DOSSIER: When and where do you write, and what kind of environment do you prefer? (Music/silence/loud squad room?)
STAMP: I wrote Spoilers almost completely sitting in the driver’s seat of my Tacoma. I had switched offices and there were competing early risers there, so I found my most undisturbed opportunity for writing was just sitting in my truck knocking it out before work.
I have had the same writing schedule since I decided to write my first novel, Shattered Circle. I started going in to work an hour and a half early so I could get my word count in before anyone else got to the office. It turned into a habit, so I’ve been doing that ever since.
DOSSIER: On your hit podcast, That’s Criminal, what’s something you talked about with Tim Hendricks that ended up on the cutting room floor? He can get a little wild. (See his Dossier for more!)
STAMP: I don’t cut anything on the podcast. I offer everyone up front to let me know if there’s anything they want to stay away from so what goes on while we’re recording is all fair game. I don’t even edit myself when I screw up.
Last week I was speaking with true crime author Rod Sadler about his book Grim Paradise which takes place on Mackinac Island (pronounced ‘Mack in aww’ Island). During the intro I called it “Mack in ack” three times. When he came on, he corrected me and said, “You might have to cut that and fix it.”
I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I think people like the transparency, and I thought it was kind of funny that I’d butchered the name so badly. I figured it would be good for the audience to have a chuckle at my expense. Just goes to reinforce the authenticity of the conversation, I guess.
DOSSIER: You’ve gone from city cop to FBI guy in Buffalo, to worldwide NCIS agent. What’s next for John Stamp, podcast host, author, and hater of sports cars with automatic transmissions?
STAMP: I’m hoping the second Ty Benhoff novel comes out this year. I’ve got plans for at least three more Benhoff novels. I’m having fun with That’s Criminal, so as long as I keep finding cool people to talk to that will continue. In the long term I’m hoping to pop smoke from federal service in the next five years and become a full-time beach bum/writer/podcaster. That’s the plan anyway. We’ll see what happens.
Thanks for the opportunity to join you. I appreciate it.
Website: johnstampwriter.com
Jeff Circle 