Elena Smith is back again to shine the spotlight on a member of SMFS. This time out, it's the incredibly prolific John M. Floyd, a Golden Derringer winner who turns out more high-quality stories than any other writer I know of. Getting to rub elbows with and learn from writers of John's caliber is one of the great benefits of membership in SMFS. Take it away, Elena!
John M. Floyd is a prolific writer, the author of more than 1,000 short stories plus 9 books. A list of his work can be found on his website, http://www.johnmfloyd.com/ It is not a “complete list,” because - as John says - “A complete list would be so long it would either bore readers to death or send them screaming into the streets.” This interview will focus on some questions not covered on his website.
You live in Mississippi. Have you always lived there?
Yes. Except for my four years in the Air Force.
Do you feel there are elements of Southern living that influence your stories in some way?
Probably so. For one thing, I grew up with some really wild and interesting characters, and many of them—or at least composites of them—have found their way into my writing. Also, I think life here is a bit more relaxed and slower-paced than in many other places, and to me that’s conducive to dreaming up these stories. It’s also conducive to long naps, though, so I might need to rethink that.
If you could live someplace else - anywhere in the world, without any financial constraints - where would it be?
Nowhere. I’ve seen a lot of the rest of the country, and of the rest of the world, and I’m perfectly pleased to live right here.
At what point in your life did you know that you wanted to become a full time writer?
I probably first realized it in early 1994, when I first started writing for publication. I was working at that time—I spent 30 years with IBM—but I knew then that I wanted to eventually write full-time. And now that I’m retired and happily worthless, I do. Well, most of the time, anyway. I did stop and mow the yard yesterday.
How long did you have to try before you sold your first story?
Not long. Four of the first five stories I submitted were—somehow, amazingly—sold and published. That was, of course, a fluke, and the next dozen or so submissions were rejected—but I was incredibly lucky to have those early successes, because it showed me that at least it COULD be done.
What published authors, and/or short story writers, were your first influences, and why were you so attracted to their work?
The big ones, for me, were Robert B. Parker, Larry McMurtry, Elmore Leonard, and Nelson DeMille. Parker because of his dialogue and fast-moving plots, McMurtry because of his characters, Leonard because of his dialogue, and DeMille because of his use of humor in otherwise serious fiction. As for short-story writers, it was Jack Ritchie, mainly because of his fantastic plots and tight writing. Ritchie was a masterful and under-appreciated storyteller.
There are many types of mystery stories - locked room, noir, scams, murders, other felonies, misdemeanors. Have you written about every kind of mystery/ crime scenario you can think of?
Yes, I probably have. Except for pastiches. I don’t much care for pastiches.
Do your story notions usually emerge from a character or a plot idea?A plot idea. I have occasionally started a story because I pictured a character, or a setting, or a title, or a theme—but very rarely. I almost always think first of a plot, and proceed from there.
What was the most satisfying experience you’ve had with publication of a story, and why?
That’s a hard question. It would probably be “Molly’s Plan,” a bank-heist story I sold to Strand Magazine that was later selected by Otto Penzler and James Patterson for inclusion in Best American Mystery Stories and was considered for film adaptation. It was a satisfying story for me because of its many plot reversals—I still remember how much fun it was to write.
Did you begin your writing journey by joining a writers’ group? Are you in one now? What are some of the benefits you’ve experienced from this?
No, I didn’t, and no, I’m not currently in a group. I have been, though, in the past, and I did enjoy the fellowship with others who love fiction writing.
Is there a writer you would like to recommend that I interview in the future?
I would suggest Doug Allyn, a good friend and one of the most talented short-story writers I know.
