Harris L. Kligman, author of such titles as "The Profession" and "Her Father's Daughter", sat with us to answer a few interesting questions.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
"Try to remember both the good and bad experiences. Someday you may need to reflect on them again and how you handled them, so that your journey through life can be a smooth one."
What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?
"I realized quickly that once words are spoken they can never be retracted. This means that I should "think" before I speak and when I speak it should be with humility and to add to something in a positive way."
What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?
"For me I have two novels that I like and have read and reread a number of times. George Orwell's "1984" and "Animal Farm."
What does literary success look like to you?
"If people can enjoy the storyline and find an "escape" when reading it, I have succeeded in what I attempted to do at the outset of writing each of my novels. I believe the reader can always learn something from my novels since I combine both fact and fiction when I write these stories."
What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
"I don't find it difficult to write about my female characters. I married a hard driving business woman who is astute, clever, resourceful and beautiful. I use her as the role model for all my female characters."
How do you select the names of your characters?
"I think about what I would name myself when I write the male and female main and supporting characters. It's that simple."
Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?
"Very definitely. It's sometimes in the dialogue and/or the persona that I project for my characters. These characters always have a resemblance to people I've met through my 35 years of travel in South America, the Far East and South Africa, and/or during my twenty-years as a United States Army Intelligence Officer. It also might be a quick reference to a happening, to a place, or a comment that might be missed by the reader as he or she moves on and into the next sequence of events."
To learn what makes for a great espionage thriller, click below to read Harris L. Kligman's article written for Mystery & Suspense Magazine/Website.
Additional novels written by Harris L. Kligman can be purchased at Amazon.
